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LIFE 



AND 



CHARACTER 



OF THE 

CHEVALIER JOHN PAUL JONES, 

A CAPTAIN 

IN THE 

SiTAW OF THZ; UXTZTZ!2> STATES^ 

DUEIJVG 

THEIR REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 

DKiilCATED TO THE OFFICERS OF THK AMEI11CA>." NA^ V 



f<pCcliiii'iir agrndo. — "Let us be triecl by <juv actiuu-.' 

BY JOHN HENKY SHEUBURNE 

Resrister of the Navv of the United Statf? 



CITY OF WASHINGTON 

1825. 



sOLD BV WILDER iz CAMPBELL, JVEW-rORK; 
A\D AT THE PRIITCIPAL BOOKSTORES IN THE UNITED STATES 



Vanderpool & Cole, Frintcfs, N. Y 



t' 






' J75' 



District of Columbia, to •wit : 

BE IT REMEMBERED, Tliat on tlie nineteenth day of April, in tiie year ol' our 
Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United 
States of America, tlie forty ninth, John Henry Sherburne of the said District, hath deposited 
in the office of the clerk of the District Court for the District of Columbia, the title of a 
book, the right whereof he claims as author and proprietor, in the words following — to wit : 

" Life and Character of the Chevalier John Paul Jones, a Captain in the Navy of the 
Unitod States during their Revolutionary War. Dedicated to the Officers of the American 
Navy. Spectimnr agendo, ' Let us be tried by our actions.' By John Henry Sherburne, 
Register of the Navy of the United States. City of Washington — 1825." 

In Cjonfbrmity to the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled " An act for the 
encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the au- 
thors and proprietors of such copies during the times therein mentioned." — and also to the 
act, entitled "An act supplementary to an act, entitled ' an act for the encouragement of 
learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors 
of such copies during the times therein mentioned,' and extending the benefits thereof to tlie 
arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints." 

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and 
affixed the public seal.of my office, the day and year aforesaid, 
ffivwxin^g} EDMUND J. LEE, 

I Xia S« I Clerk ef Vit District Qourt for the District of Columbia- 



/'f p 



TO THE OFFICERS 

OF THE 

KAVy OF THE UNITED STATES; 

This work is dedicated to, and placed under 
your particular patronage. 

The honor of every individual in the Navy 
constitutes a common stock, which every one in 
the service is bound to protect. 

THE AUTHOR, 



'I'he loUowiiig leiters have been received by the author I'rom Thomas Jej- 
Ibrson, Esq., James Madison, Esq., and the Honorable Joseph Story, 
one of the judges of tire Supreme Court of the United States. 

Monticcllo, February 14, 1825. 

" Dear Sir, 

Durino- my residence in Paris, I was much acquainted with Com- 
modore Jolin Paul Jones, whose life you propose to write, and had much to 
do with him ; yet my memory is so decayed that from that source I can fur- 
nish you nothing worth a place in liis history, I believe I cannot better 
comply with your request than by sending you all the papers relating to 
him in my possession. His letters to me, which are many, will probably 
throw some lights, which you may not possess, on his occupations during that 
period. His death happened after I left Paris, and 1 presume you know that 
the National Assembly, then sitting, expressed their respect for him by wear- 
ing mourning. I shall be glad if what I furnish may add any thing mate- 
rial to the establishment of that fame which he truly merited. 

Be pleased to accept for yourself the assurance of my great respect, 
(Signed) THOMAS JEFFERSON." 



Montpellier, April 28, 1825. 
" Dear Sir, 

I have received your letter of the 23d instant, enclosing a copy of 
your prospectus of a biography of John Paul Jones. The subject you 
have chosen for your pen, gives you an opportunity of doing justice to an 
individual whose heroism will fill a brilliant page in the history of the 
.American Revolution. 

I am sorry it is not in my power to add to the materials you have derived 
from otlier sources. I must regret, also, that my personal acquaintance 
with Captain Jones was so slight and transient, that I ought not to attempt 
a view of his character. His bust, by Hottdon, is an exact likeness ; pour- 
traying well the characteristic features stamped on the countenance of the 
original. 

With respect and good wishes, 
(Signed) JAMES MADISON/" ' 



Washington City, February 17, 1825, 

'• Dear Sir, 

General La Fayette not having your address, has sent me the papers 
herewith enclosed, relative to Captain John Paul Jones, requesting them to 
be delivered to you. 

Yours, very respectfully, 
(Signed) JOSEPH STORY." 



INTRODUCTION. 



It is in the revolutions of empires that truly great men 
make themselves known. In the tranquil scenes of peace 
the human intellect, with httle excitement, and without a 
grand object, is inert, exhausted in common pursuits, or 
wastes itself in placid contemplation, or in the pleasures of 
life. When powerful sentiments animate the heart, and en- 
lightened views direct us to the attainment of benefits calcu- 
lated to secure the freedom, happiness, and prosperity of the 
human race, the soul expands, the mental faculties assume 
their natural proportion and energy, and, in defiance of the 
artificial distinctions of society, genius, and talents, however 
originally obscure, burst from concealment, shine with re- 
splendent lustre, and manifest themselves in actions whieh 
command the esteem and admiration of the world. The 
history of all nations, ancient as well as modern, attest the 
truth of this assertion ; and France in particular, within the 
last thirty-five years, furnishes proof in abundance, that 
whatever distinctions are created by systems of social order. 
in behalf of birth and fortune, nature distributes her favours 
without regard to wealth or rank. 

Of all the political revolutions, the incidents of which are 
recorded in the annals of nations, that of the British Ameri- 
can Colonies was the most daring and manly. In other 
instances, the poverty of an exchequer, the feebleness of a 
sovereign or ministry, or the derangement of public affairs, 
has been seized upon as affording a favourable opportunity 
for emancipation and independence. But in that of the 
British American Colonies, the people vindicated their rights 
and contended for their liberties, when Great Britain was 
the preponderating power of Europe ; when she had men of 
the first capacity in the cabinet, illustrious warriors in the 
field, a navy which defied the fleets of all other powers, and 
pecuniary resources over which her treasury had unlimited 
control. Notwithstanding these prodigious advantages the 
people of the colonies did not hesitate to remonstrate, to ro- 



\1 IXTRODUCTIOX. 

sist encroachments, and finally to appeal to arms. They did 
not disguise from themselves the fearful odds of such an en- 
counter ; but relying on the justice of their cause, on the di- 
vine protection, and on the intelligence of their community, 
they firmly supported their claims, triumphed over the for- 
midable armaments of Great Britain, and established their 
title to unrestricted sovereignty with a courage and a con- 
stancy which have been acknowledged and applauded in 
every quarter of the globe. 

The generous devotion which the people of the colonies 
exliibited in the cause of freedom, attracted the sympathy of 
patriotic and liberal minds in France, in Germany, and even 
in Scotland, England, and Ireland, from which the united 
colonies derived a vast moral force. Individuals from each 
of those countries resorted to the standard of America, pre- 
viously, as well as subsequently to the declaration of inde- 
pendence. The Marquis de la Fayette, the Barons Steuben 
and De Kalb, General Montgomery, and Lord Stirling are 
names familiar to the ears of the fathers of the revolution, 
and their descendants. To these may be added that of John 
Paul Jones, whose chivalric spirit and undaunted valor, 
w^ose active disposition and nautical skill, were themes of 
eulogy at the court of Versailles, matter of astonishment 
and jealousy to that of London, and whose reputation and 
renown spread terror on the seas and along the shores of 
Great Britain and Ireland. 

The naval strength of the British Empire being pre-emi- 
nent, the efforts to be made by America on the ocean, were 
proportionally more difficult and dangerous than those on the 
land, which, nevertheless, were sufficiently arduous. The 
services of John Paul Jones, consequently, were highly 
valuable ; and it will be found, in the succeeding pages, that 
Congress duly appreciated them. He was an experienced 
navigator, and had an exactness of penetration which en- 
abled him, almost instinctively, to discriminate between what 
was merely of doubtful execution, and what was wholly im- 
practicable. Hence he was generally successful in his en- 
terprises, scarcely ever failing in an undertaking or expedi- 
tion, unless through the jealousy or disobedience of others, 
or the inclemency of the weather. 

The labors of John Paul Jones for the furtherance of the 
American cause, were incessant. Whether in port or at 
sea, he was indefatigable. He had a genius prone to ad- 
venture ; and of all the naval commanders of that day. he 



INTRODUCTION. VU 

planned and executed, both in America and in Europe, the 
most annoying expeditions against the enemy. Such was 
his intrepidity, that he was appalled by no peril, however 
great ; and his presence of mind never forsook him, even in 
the most sudden and extraordinary emergencies. No one 
was more deeply embued with a conviction of the vital con- 
sequences of the contest to mankind ; and no person felt a 
more honest zeal for its successful issue. His correspond- 
ence evinces that he foresaw the glorious destinies of the new" 
American nation, even whilst it was struggling into exist- 
ence. He was not in the least tainted with the vice of ava- 
rice ; and, with him, money was uniformly a consideration 
secondary to the promotion of the public welfare. Tena- 
cious of the rights of those under his command, and as just 
as he was generous, he enjoyed the friendship and favour of 
men of probity and honor every where. He was not merely 
countenanced but caressed at the French court ; and kings, 
nobles, ministers, and ladies of fashion and influence, did not 
hesitate to reward and sustain him for his brilliant exertions 
against the marine of England and her commerce. 

The character of JohnPaulJoneshas been much misrepre- 
sented by those who have heretofore undertaken to write his 
life. They have, for the most part, depicted him as a plun- 
derer, a pirate, cruel and unprincipled. The venal British 
press and British antipathies have been the source of this 
defamation. The present work, written from authentic 
documents, will redeem his name from the odium hitherto 
cast upon it. An attentive perusal will satisfy the reader 
that he was a man of close observation, of profound reflec- 
tion, and that his style is that of an individual of good ordi- 
nary Enghsh education, which, indeed, is common to the 
youth of all classes in Scotland. His correspondence indi- 
cates plain sense, without affectation ; and, in some passages, 
it will be discovered that he was not altogether deficient in 
the sentimental and more refined species of writing. His 
character, in truth, had a cast of the romantic in it, which 
gives to the history of his life a most interesting and agreea- 
ble complexion. As one of our earliest naval heroes, he 
merits the respect and veneration of every citizen of the 
United States ; and the statesman and politician, as well as 
the officers and seamen of our gallant navy, will discover iii 
the incidents of his eventful career illustrations of occur- 
rences in our revolutionary war, which may enlighten their 
judgments, and furnish an example worthy of imitation. 



Mil . l.XTKODUCTlUxV. 

The reader will doubtless be curious to kno\V in what 
manner, after a lapse of so many years, the original papers 
of the Chevalier John Paul Jones came into the possession 
of the author, who has no hesitation in explaining the source 
whence he obtained them. Having announced in the publi( 
prints his intention of publishing a life of the Chevalier, the 
author was written to by Mr. George A. Ward, of New- York, 
stating that accident had thrown the manuscripts in question 
into his hands. They had formerly been in the custody of 
the late Robert Hyslop, Esq. of that city ; and had subse- 
quently lain as useless rubbish in the apartment of a shop- 
keeper or tradesman there, from whom Mr. Ward procured 
them, his attention having been first attracted to them by his 
having seen the signature of Jones on one of them, at, or 
through a window. That no suspicion might arise as to their 
genuineness, those of the letters which had been addressed to 
General La Fayette, were submitted to the inspection of 
that illustrious personage at the city of Washington, who has 
recognised in his own hand-writing, the fact of his having 
received them. This explanation has relation to a portion 
of the letters and documents only. A considerable number 
have been obtained from the Department of State, through 
the obliging disposition of Mr. Adams, when Secretary. — 
Some have been kindly furnished by Mr. Jefferson, who was 
cotemporary with Jones, was his friend and patron, and 
whose enlightened recollection embraces the whole series of 
revolutionary events. 



LIFE 



CHARACTER 



CHEVALIER JOHN PAUL JONES; 



JoHx Paul Jones was the son of Mr. John Paul, a re- 
spectable gardener. He was born at Arbigland, in the 
parish of Kirkbean, and stewartry of Kirkcudbright, in the 
month of July, 1747, and received the rudiments of his 
education at the parochial school. The contiguity of his 
residence to the shore of the Solway Firth, inspired him 
with an early predeliction for a sea-faring life ; and while 
yet a mere child, he hoisted his flag on board his mimic ship, 
and issued audible mandates to his imaginary officers and 
crew, with all the consequence of a legitimate commander. 
Nor was he content with this. As his skill in manoeu- 
vring improved, he ventured to criticise the nautical know- 
ledge of practical sailors ; and in the eager and confident 
tone with which, from the eminence on which he took his 
station, he thundered forth his orders to the vessels which 
were entering the port at Carse-thorn, might be remarked 
the ardent and enterpristng mind of one who felt that he 
was born to future command! 

His partiality to a sailor's life was so determined that his 
friends resolved to indulge it ; and accordingly, at the age 
of twelve, he was sent across the Firth to Whitehaven, 
where he was bound apprentice to Mr. Younger, a respect'- 

B 



10 I 

able nierciiaiit in the American trade. His tirst voyage wat 
made on board the Friendship, Captain Benson. His course 
was steered for the Rappahannoc, and before he had com- 
pleted his thirteenth year, he landed on the shores of that 
country which he was destined to adopt as his own. His 
hjome, while the ship was in port, was the house of an elder 
brother, who, having married a native of Virginia, had pre- 
viously settled there. Here his early prepossessions in fa- 
vor of America were confirmed, and from that period had 
become the country of his fond election. 

Our adventurer, being at length freed from the trammels 
of apprenticeship, made several voyages to foreign p6rts, 
and in the year 1773, again went to Virginia to arrange the 
affairs of his brother, who had died there without leaving 
any family ; and about this time, in addition to his original 
surname, he assumed the patronymic of Jones, his father's 
christian-name having been John. This custom, which is 
of classical authority, has long been prevalent in Wales, and 
in various other countries, although it is not practised in 
that part of the island in which he was born. 

This visit revived and rivetted the attachment which 
young Paul Jones had conceived for America ; and in spite 
of the native ardor and restless activity of his mind, he re- 
solved to withdraw from the vicissitudes of a sea-faring life, 
to fix his residence in the country, and to devote the remain- 
der of his days to retirement and study. He was little aware 
of the turbulent scenes in which he was soon to perform a 
part, nor of the conspicuous figure he was to make in them. 

The discontents of the colonists had by this time occa- 
sioned much commotion, and their murmurs became daily 
deeper and more frequent, till at last they broke off" all con- 
nexion with the parent country. Towards the latter part 
of the year 1775, it was determined by Congress to fit out a 
naval force to assist in the defence of American indepen- 
dence, and an anxious search was made for friends to the 
cause who should h<e at once able and willing to act as offi- 
cers on board their vessels. It now appeared that Jones 
had, in his romantic schemes of tranquil enjoyment, falsely 
estimated the natural bent of his genius. With deep inte- 
rest he had watched the progress of those political events 
which were to decide the fate of his adopted country ; and, 
when an open resistance was made to the dominion of Bri- 
tain-j he could no longer remain an inactive spectator. Ha- 



,11 

ving only just completed his twenty-eighth year, he was lull 
of bodily vigor and of mental energy, and he conceived that 
his nautical skill would qualify him to be a distinguished 
assertor of the rights of the colonists. He was appointed, 
on the 22d of December, 1 775, first lieutenant of the Alfred, 
and on board that vessel, before Philadelphia, he hoisted 
the flag of independent America with his own hands, the 
first time it was ever displayed * 

The following resolution, taken from the Journals of Con- 
gress, verifies the fact of his having been one among the first 
of those who were selected to vindicate the rights of the 
country at sea : 

In Congress, 22d Dec. 1775. 

Resolved, That the following naval oflicers be appointed : 

Ezek. Hopkins, Esq. Commander in Chief of the fleet. 

Dudley Saltonstall, Captain of the Alfred. 

Abraham Whipple, do. Columbus. 

Nicholas Biddle, do. Andrew Doria. 

John B. Hopkins, do. Cabot. 

1st Lieutenants — John Paul Jones, Rhodes Arnold, 

Stansbury, Hersted Hacker, Jonathan Pitcher. 

2d Lieutenants — Benjamin Seabury, Joseph Olney, Eli- 
sha Warner, Thomas Weaver, McDougall. 

3d Liexdenants — John Fanning, Ezekiel Burroughs, Da- 
niel Vaughan. 

Resolved, That the pay of the commander in chief of the 
fleet be one hundred and twenty-five dollars per montli. 

Some time was necessary to the equipment of the fleel. 
but the subjoined extract of a letter written by Lieut, Jones 
to the Hon. Mr. Hewe?, then an influential member of Con- 
gress from North-Carolina, demonstrates that the newly ap- 
pointed officers were not idle. They received their com- 
missions the latter part of December, 1775, and on the 17th 
of the succeeding February they put to sea : 

" When I undertook to write you an account of our pro- 
ceedings in the fleet, I did not imagine that I should have 
been so stinted in point of time : I owed you a much earlier 

* The account of Jones thus far, has been taken from the Edinburgh 
Encyclopedia, and as the author has learnt from Mr. Lowden, the nephew 
i>i" Jones, a respectable merchant, now resident at Charleston, S. C.^wa? 
written from the lips of Mr. Lowden'? mother for that work by T>r. tiiin- 
can, of Dumfries, Scotland. 



account; but since our arrival here, the^ repairs and busi- 
ness of the ship have required my constant attention. I will 
endeavor to be more punctual hereafter; in the meanwhile, 
hope you will excuse this omission till I can account for it 
personally. I pass over what was prior to our arrival at 
the Capes of Delaware — where we were met by the Hor- 
net sloop, and Wasp schooner, from Maryland. 

" On the 1 7th of February, the fleet put to sea with a 
smart north-east wind. In the night of the 19th, (the gale 
having increased,) we lost company with the Hornet and 
Fly, tender. We steered to the southward, without seeing 
a single sail or meeting with any thing remarkable, till the 
1 st of March, when we anchored at Abaco, one of the Ba- 
hama Islands, having previously brought to a couple of 
New Providence sloops to take pilots out of them. By 
these people we were informed that there was a large quan- 
tity of powder, with a number of cannon, in the two forts 
of New Providence. In consequence of this intelligence 
the marines and landsmen, to the number of 300 and up- 
wards, under the command of Captain Nicholas, were em- 
barked in the*two sloops. It was determined that thej' 
should keep below deck until the sloops were got in close 
to the fort, and they were then to land instantly and take 
possession before the island could be alarmed. This, how- 
ever, was rendered abortive, as the forts fired an alarm on 
the approach of our fleet. We then ran in, and anchored 
at a small key three leagues to windward of the town, and 
from thence the Commodore despatched (he marines, with 
the sloop Providence and schooner Wasp to cover their 
landing. They landed without opposition, and soon took 
possession of the eastern garrison, which, after firing a few 
shot, the islanders abandoned. The next morning the ma- 
rines marched for the town, and were met by a Messenger 
from the governor, who told Captain Nicholas, that " the 
western garrison (Fort Nassau) was ready for his reception, 
and that he might march his force in as soon as he pleased.- - 
This was effected without firing a gun on our side — but the 
governor had sent off 1 50 barrels of powder the night be- 
fore. Enclosed you have an inventory of the cannon, stores, 
&;c. which we brought off in the fleet. We continued at 
New Providence till the 17th ult., and then brought off the 
governor and two more gentlemen prisoners. Our course 
was now directed back for the continent, and. after meeting 



\:i 

With much bad weather, on the 5th inst., off Block Island, 
we took the Hawke schooner, of six guns, one of Capt. Wal- 
lace's tenders, and the bomb brig Bolton, of eight guns and 
two howitzers. The next morning we fell in with the Glas- 
gow man of war, and a hot engagement ensued, the particu- 
lars of which I cannot communicate better than by extract- 
ing the minutes which I entered on the Alfred's log book. 
I have the pleasure of assuring you that the commander 
in chief is respected through the fleet, and I verily believe 
that the officers and men, in general, would go any length to 
execute his orders." 

The same letter contains some excellent observations on 
the courtesy which ought to prevail among the officers of 
the navy. Lieutenant Jones remarks — 

" It is certainly for the interest of the service that a cor- 
dial interchange of civilities should subsist between supe- 
rior and inferior officers ; and therefore it is bad policy in 
superiors to behave towards their inferiors indiscriminately, 
as though they were of a lower species. Men of liberal 
minds, who have been long accustomed to command, can 
ill brook being thus set at nought by others who pretend to 
claim the monopoly of sense. The rude ungentle treat- 
ment which they experience creates such heart-burnings as 
are nowise consonant with that cheerful ardour and spirit 
which ought ever to be the characteristic of an officer ; 
and, therefore, whoever thinks himself hearty in the ser- 
vice, is widely mistaken when he adopts such a line of con- 
duct in order to prove it, for to be well obeyed, it is neces- 
sary to be esteemed." 

He then adds — 

* 

" The fleet having been reinforced with '200 men lent from 
the army, is now in condition for another enterprise, and 
we expect to embrace the first wind for Rhode Island, 
where I hope we shall meet with better success, as we un- 
derstand that the Scarborough is now there. It is proposed 
to clean the ships at Providence, Rhode Island, so that our 
detention there will admit of a return of letters from Phila- 
delphia." 

The annexed is the memorandum of the engagement 
with the Glasgow, referred to in a preceding extract. 



14 

'• At 2 A. M. cleared ship for action. At hali" past two. 
the Cabot being between us and the enemy, began to en- 
gage, and soon after we did the same. At the third glass 
the enemy bore away, and by crowding sail at length got a 
considerable way a-head, made signals for the rest of the 
English fleet at Rhode Island to come to her assistance, and 
steered directly for the harbour. The Commodore then 
thought it imprudent to risk our prizes, ^c. by pursuing 
farther, therefore, to prevent our being decoyed into their 
hands, at half past 6 made the signal to leave otf chase and 
haul by the wind to join our prizes. The Cabot was disa- 
bled at the second broadside. The captain being danger- 
ously wounded — the master and several men killed. The 
enemy's whole fire was then directed at us, and an unlucky 
shot having carried away our wheel-block and ropes, the 
ship broached to and gave the enemy an opportunity of 
raking us with several broadsides before we were again in 
condition to steer the ship and return the fire. In the ac- 
tion we received several shot under water, which made the 
ship very leaky ; we had besides, the mainmast shot through, 
and the upper works and rigging very considerably dama- 
ged ; yet it is surprising that we only lost the 2d lieutenant 
of marines and four men, one of whom, (Martin Gilhngwa- 
ter,) a midshipman, prisoner, who was in the cockpit, and 
had been taken in the bomb brig Bolton yesterday — we 
had no more than three men dangerously and four slightly 
wounded." 

Notwithstanding the success of the enterprise against New 
Providence, and the alacrity expressed in the letter of Lieut. 
Jones, of the 14th of April, 1776, for a new expedition, the 
squadron was not in a condition to put to sea again immedi- 
ately. The seamen were afflicted with sickness after their 
return to the continent. Nearly a month had elapsed be- 
fore the Andrew Doria and Cabot could be prepared for 
another cruize, which they were to undertake in company, 
for four weeks, from Rhode-Island. The Alfred and Co- 
lumbus could not be fully manned for want of men. It be- 
came necessary to enlist seamen, and this was difficult, as 
numbers of them had been enrolled for the army. In a let- 
ter from Lieut. Jones to the Honorable Mr. Hewes, dated 
at New-York, the 19th of May, 1 776, he represents that " the 
seamen, almost to a man, had entered into the army before 
the fleet was set on foot : and I am well informed that there 



15 

are lour or live thousand seamen now in the land service.'* 
This class of persons, always amongst the most patriotic, 
had been thrown out of employment at the commencement 
of general hostilities with Great Britain, and promptly re- 
sorted to the standard of their country under General 
Washington, until arrangements could be made by Congress 
for giving more scope to their energies on the element to 
which they had been accustomed. 

The difficulty of pi-ocuring seamen was not the only one 
which the infant American navy had to encounter. The 
unfortunate engagement with the Glasgow produced consi- 
derable dissatisfaction, and occasioned unfavourable reflec- 
tions to be cast on the officers of the fleet. Although the 
behaviour of Lieut. Jones was not particularly called in 
question, he evidently felt very sensibly the severity of the 
common animadversions, as every man of spirit and honor 
necessarily would have felt in a similar situation. Writing 
on this topic to the Honorable Mr. Hewes, he remarked that 
his " feelings as an individual were hurt by the censures that 
had been indiscriminately thrown out." " My station," he 
observes, " confined me to the Alfred's lower gun-deck, 
where I commanded during the action ; yet, though the com- 
mander's letter, which has been published, says, 'all the 
officers in the Alfred behaved well,' still the public blames 
me among others for not taking the enemy. But a little con- 
sideration will place the matter in a true light ; for no offi- 
cer, under a superior, who does not stand charged, by that 
superior, for cowardice or misconduct, can be blamed on 
any occasion whatever." He wrote to Mr. Hewes, " I wish 
a general inquiry might be made respecting the abilities of 
officers in all stations, and then the country would not be 
cheated." Whilst it must be admitted that the expression 
of these sentiments do credit to Lieut. Jones, it may be no- 
ted that the dissatisfaction manifested by the public at the 
failure of our squadron to capture the Glasgow, was, per- 
haps, nothing more than the effect of that disappointment, 
which, in every community, is experienced on the want of 
success in any combat, military or naval. Victory, whether 
the result of skill or accident, is sure to be applauded, whilst 
discomfiture or defeat, let it proceed from what cause it may, 
is uniformly regarded with coldness, if not with condemna- 
tion. Lieut. Jones, being a subordinate officer, and having 
no imputation cast upon liim by the Commodore, was in no 



munuer responsible lor the operations ot the squadron, and. 
Jinder all the circumstances incident to the action with the 
Clasgovv, her escape is to be ascribed more to the necessity 
of preserving the young colonial navy for future and greater 
services than to any want of capacity or valor in the officers. 
Two Courts Martial were held on board the Alfred. The 
consequence of the second one, as far as it alfected Lieut. 
Jones, was an order for him to take command of the sloop 
Providence, on the 10th of May 1776. In this armed vessel 
he arrived at New- York, on the 1 8th of that month, after 
a passage of thirty-six hours from Rhode-Island, with a re- 
turn of upwards of one hundred men, besides officers, which 
General Washington had lent to the fleet at New-London. 
At New- York he applied himself to the shipping of mariners. 
The navy of America had just been brought into exist- 
ence. Rank, and relative duties, both superior and inferior, 
were to be established ; and these are not, in the freshness of 
any institution, easily regulated. Naval and military officers 
are justly tenacious of their rights in this respect. The 
possession of these rights constitutes their reward for past 
exertion, and the hope of obtaining and exercising them is 
an excitement to further efforts. Until precise lines of dis- 
tinction could be drawn, until the newly appointed officers 
could be habituated to urbanity in command, and submission 
in obedience, so essential to the maintenance of order and 
harmiDny, something of an acrimonious temper would creep 
in to impair the force of authority, and weaken the ties of 
social and official intercourse. At the beginning of the re- 
volution Congress were obliged to act with much wisdom and 
address in this particular, in relation to the station and ad- 
vancement of officers in the army as well as in the navy. — 
In the former, the controlling influence and equity of Gene- 
ral Washington smothered and concihated many unpleasant 
differences. In the navy there was no individual of such 
unrivalled ascendancy. Not but that all were willing to fight 
for their country ; but rank is an affair of personal honor, in 
which every one believes himself bound to sustain his claims. 
Lieut. Jones had an aspiring mind, which impelled him to 
seek promotion as a means of signalizing himself. His opi- 
nion of the qualifications requisite in a naval commander, 
however, was not extravagant, and evinces nothing of an 
arbitrary disposition. Writing to the Honorable Mr. Hewes. 
he tells him, " in my opinion, a commander in the navy 



ought to be a man ot" strong and well connected sense, with 
a tolerable education, a gentleman as well as a seaman, both 
in theory and practice : for want of learning and rude ungen- 
tle manners are by no means characteristic of an officer." 
There is no officer of the navy of the present day, it is presu- 
med, who will not concur in the propriety of this delineation 
of what is required in an accomplished naval commander. 

Lieut. Jones had been offered the command of the Fly, at 
Reedy-Island, in the Delaware, previously to the sailing of 
the expedition against the Bahamas, but declined it, consi- 
dering her only as a paltry message boat, suitable for a mid- 
shipman. The command was then given to the lieutenant 
of the Cabot; and upon this circumstance was founded a 
claim to priority unfavourable to Jones. The naval service, 
moreover, began to attract attention, and new applicants pre- 
sented themselves for appointment. To the Honorable Mr. 
Hewes, Lieut. Jones unbosomed himself on this delicate 
subject. " There is little confidence to be placed in reports," 
said he in his letter of the 19th of May, 1776, to that gentle- 
man, " otherwise the lieutenants of the fleet might have rea- 
son to be uneasy when they are told that the several commit- 
tees have orders to appoint all the officers for the new ships, 
except only the captains. I cannot think that they will be 
so far overlooked, who have at first stepped forth, and shown 
at least a willingness : nor can I suppose that my own con- 
duct in the service will, in the esteem of the Congress, sub- 
ject me to be superseded in favor of a younger officer, espe- 
cially one who is said not to understand navigation." He 
then adverts to the proffered command of the Fly, and his 
refusal of it, and proceeds, — " On my appointment to the 
Providence I was indeed astonished to find my seniority 
questioned. The Commodore told me he must refer to the 
Congress. I have received no new commission. I wish the 
master in dispute may be first cleared up. I will cheerfully 
abide by whatever you think is right. At the same time I 
am ready to have my pretensions inquired into by men who 
are judges. When I applied for a lieutenancy, I hoped, in 
that rank, to gain much useful knowledge from those of more 
experience than myself. I was, however, mistaken, for, in- 
stead of gaining information, I was obliged to inform others. 
I formed an exercise, and trained the men so well to the use 
of the great guns in the Alfred, that they went through the 
motions of broadsides and rounds as exactlv as soldiers ge- 

C 




nerally perl'onn the manual exercise.'' This can scarcely 
be called egotism. Lieut. Jones was unsupported by family 
(Connexions in this country, and had to rely on his own merit 
and the disinterested patronage of members of Congress, 
and other eminent patriots, for promotion. It was, there- 
fore, but simple justice to himself, whilst he submitted his 
pretensions to the test of inquiry, to speak of what he had 
already done of a useful nature to the service. 

On the 13th of December 1775, Congress had directed 
that thirteen frigates should be built, which, by a resolution 
of the 6th June 1776, were denominated the Congress, Ran- 
dolph, Hancock, Washington, Trumbull, Raleigh, Effing- 
ham, Montgomery, Warren, Boston, Virginia, Providence, 
and Delaware. They were ordered to be constructed in 
different ports of the colonies, and Lieut. Jones was anxious 
to obtain the command of one of them. " I should esteem 
myself happy," said he, in a letter to Mr. Hewes, "in being 
sent for to Philadelphia, to act under the more immediate 
direction of the Congress, especially in one of the new 
ships. The largest, and 1 think by far the best of the fri- 
gates was launched the day after I left Providence ; but, 
from what I can learn, neither of them will equal the Phila- 
delphia ships." His wishes, it appears, were not gratified. 
He was continued in the command of the Providence, 
which required heaving down, repairing, and refitting, before 
she could proceed on another cruize. After he had pro- 
cured as many men as were to be enlisted at New- York, he 
was ordered back to Rhode Island for instructions. 

At what precise time Lieut. Jones sailed from thence in 
search of the enemy, is unknown. He was employed for 
some time in escorting vessels from Rhode Island into the 
sound. He was then ordered to Boston, to take under 
convoy certain vessels, laden with coal for Philadelphia. 
According to a letter which he wrote to the Honorable 
Robert Morris, dated on board the Providence, at sea, 
on the 4th of September 1776, it is manifest that he had 
been previously to that time, actively engaged in annoying 
the British trade, and it is believed that, at this time, he 
acted with unhmited instructions. That letter is remarka- 
ble on account of two passages in it ; one of which refers 
to some misfortune which had deeply afflicted him, but 
which he forbears to explain ; the other to the qualifica- 
tions of the officers of the' navy, and the relative rank of 



ofliceis in the land and naval service. The luiuier piovcs 
that he was a person of much sensibihty and of correct feel- 
ing. The rank of the officers in the navy was still unsettled ; 
and Lieut. Jones, fearful that he might be superseded by 
his juniors, was anxious to remove every pretext for giving 
to another the precedence which he considered as due to 
himself. This motive, it is to be presumed, induced him to 
write to the Honorable Mr. Morris, in the following manner : 
" I conclude that Mr. Hewes has acquainted you M^ith a 
very great misfortune which befel me some years ago, and 
which brought me into North America. I am undei" no 
concern whatever, that this, 6r any past circumstance of 
my life will sink me in your opinion. Since human wis- 
dom cannot secure us from accidents, it is the greatest 
effort of reason to bear them well." This is a judicious 
and philosophical reflection, and the effusion of no ordinary 
mind. The misfortune of which he speaks would not have 
implicated his moral character, or he would not have en- 
joyed the confidence and friendship of the Honorable Mr- 
Hewes, to whom, as Jones informed Mr, Morris, the par- 
ticulars were known. 

On the other topic, concerning the capacity and relative 
rank of officers, Lieut. Jones displayed a laudable zeal for 
the improvement of the navy. His plan of a previous ex- 
amination of officers is now actually in practice in the in- 
vestigation of the proficiency of young midshipmen, which 
annually takes place. This passage of his letter to Mr. 
Morris is brief and to the purpose : — 

••' As the regulations of the navy," he says, " are of the 
utmost consequence, you will not think it presumption, if, 
with the utmost diffidence, I venture to communicate to 
you such hints as, in my judgment, will promote its honov 
and good government. I could heartily wish that every 
commission officer was to be previously examined; for, to 
my certain knowledge, there are persons who have already 
crept into commission without abilities or fit qualification : 
I am myself far from desiring to be excused. From experi- 
ence in ours, as well as from my former intimacy with many 
officers of note in the British navy, I am convinced that the 
parity of rank between sea and land or marine officers, is 
of more consequence to the harmony of the service, than 
has generally been imagined. In the British establish- 



2U 

lueiit, aii admiral ranks with a general, a vice admiral with 
a lieut. general, a rear admiral with a major general, a 
commodore with a brigadier general, a captain with a 
colonel, a master and commander with a lieut. colonel, 
a lieut. commanding with a major, and a lieut. in the 
navy ranks with a captain of horse, foot, or marines. 1 
propose not our enemies as an example for our general 
imitation, yet, as their navy is the best regulated of any in 
the world, we must in some degree imitate them, and aim 
at such farther improvement as may one day make ours 
vie with, and exceed theirs. Were this regulation to take 
place in our navy it would prevent numberless disputes and 
duellings, which otherwise will be unavoidable." 

From the cruize in which he was engaged, on the 4th of 
September 1776, he returned to Newport, Rhode Island, 
on the 7th of October following, and on the 17th again 
wrote to the Honorable Robert Morris, who had cordially 
permitted his confidential correspondence. This letter of 
the 1 7th of October, exhibits the character of Lieut. Jones 
in so just a light, and in a short compass shows his past suc- 
cess, his diligence, his sympathy, his liberality, his anxiety 
for the growth of the navy, and ardent wishes to prosecute 
the war to a speedy and triumphant issue, that it is but jus- 
tice to his memory to insert it here entire. 

Providence Sloop of War at Newport^ ) 
Rhode-Island, 17 th Oct. 1776. S 

Honored Sir, 

1 wrote to you at sea 4th ult. by the brigantine Sea 
Nymph, my second prize. I have taken sixteen sail — 
manned and sent in eight prizes, and sunk, burnt, or des- 
troyed the rest. The list of prizes, is as follows : 

1 The Brigantine Britannia, whaler, "" 

3- " Brigantine Sea nymph, West-Indies, 

3 " Brigantine Favourite do. 

4 " Ship Alexander, Newfoundland, . manned and 

5 ■' Brigantine Success, do. j*^ sent in. 
G '• Brigantine Kingston Packet, Jam. 

7 " Brigantine Defiance, Jersey, | 

8 '• Sloop Portland, whaler. ) 



. burnt, or other- 
' wise destroyed. 



i 1 

1 The Ship Adventure, Jersey, \ 

2 " Brigantine Friendship do. ' 

3 " Schooner Jolni, London, 

4 '• Schooner Betsey, Jersey, 

5 " Schooner Betsey, Hahfax, 

6 " Schooner Sea Flower, Canso, 

7 " Schooner Ebenezer, do. 

8 " .Schooner Hope, Jersey, J 

I have written from time to time to- the Marine Board, 
and furnished them with particular accounts of all my pro- 
ceedings, and I now send copies of my former letters. I 
arrived here 7th Inst. I would not have lost a day with- 
out writing to you and to the board, had not the commo- 
dore proposed to me to take command of an expedition, 
with the Alfred, Providence, and Hampden, to destroy the 
fishery of Newfoundland, but principally to relieve a hun- 
dred of our fellow citizens, who are detained as prisoners 
and slaves in the coal pits of Cape Breton. All my hu- 
manity was awakened, and called up to action by this 
laudable proposal ; and I have been successfully employed 
in refitting and getting the Providence in readiness, but am 
under the greatest apprehension that the expedition will fall 
to nothing, as the Alfred is greatly short of men. I found 
her with only about thirty men, and we have with much 
ado enlisted thirty more ; but it seems the privateers entice 
them away as fast as they receive their month's pay. It is 
to the last degree distressing to contemplate the state and 
estabhshment of our navy. The comm(^ class of mankind 
are actuated by no nobler principle than that of self-in- 
terest; this, and this alone determines all adventurers in 
privateers ; the owners, as well as those whom they employ. 
And while this is the case, unless the private emolument of in- 
dividuals in our navy is made superior to that in privateers, 
it never can become respectable; it never will become 
formidable. And without a respectable navy — alas ! Ame- 
rica ! In* the present critical situation of affairs, human 
wisdom can suggest no more than one infalhble expedient : 
enlist the seamen during pleasure, and give them all the 
prizes. What is the paltry emolument of two thirds of 
prizes to the finances of this vast continent.* If so poor a 

* It will be seen, in the sequel, that, by certain resolutions of Congress, 
of the 25th of November 1776, Congress assigned two thirds of the value 



resource is essential to its independency, in sober sadness 
we are involved in a woful predicament, and our ruin is 
last approaching. The situation of America is new in the 
annals of mankind, her affairs cry haste, and speed must 
answer them. Trifles, therefore, ought to be* wholly dis- 
regarded, as being in the old vulgar proverb " penny wise, 
and pound foohsh." If our enemies with the best establish- 
ed and most formidable navy in the universe, have found it 
expedient to assign all prizes to the captors, how much 
more is such policy essential to our infant fleet; but I need 
use no arguments to convince you of the necessity of mak- 
ing the emoluments of our navy equal, if not superior, to 
theirs. We have had proof that a navy may be ofiicered 
almost on any terms, but we are not so sure that these offi- 
cers are equal to their commissions ; nor will the Congress 
ever obtain such certainty, until they, in their wisdom, see 
proper to appoint a board of admiralty, competent to de- 
termine impartially the respective merits and abiUties of 
their oflicers, and to superintend, regulate, and point out, 
all the motions and operations of the navy. 

Governor Hopkins tells me, that he apprehends I am ap- 
pointed to the Andrew Doria; she is a good cruizer, and 
would, in my judgment, answer much better, were she 
mounted with 12 six-pounders, than as she is at present, 
with 14 fours. An expedition of importance may be elfect- 
ed this winter, on the coast of Africa, with part of the ori- 
ginal fleet. Either the Alfred or Columbus, with the Andrew 
Doria and Providence, would, I am persuaded, carry all 
before them ; and^ive a blow to the English African trade, 
which would not soon be recovered, by not leaving them a 
mast standing on that coast. This expedition would be 
attended with no great expense ; besides, tlie ship and ves- 
sels mentioned are unfit for service on a winter coast, 
which is not the case with the new frigates. The small 
squadron for this service ought to sail early, that the prizes 
may reach our ports in March or April. If I do nc^t succeed 
in manning the Alfred, so as to proceed to the eastward, in 
the course of this week, the season will be lost ; the coal 

of all captures made by public ships of war to the use of the United Colo- 
nies. These are the " two thirds" to which Lieut. Jones alludes. The 
remaining one third was divided into twenty parts, and ordered to be dis- 
tributed among the captors in the proportions mentioned in n. resolution of 
the 6th of January 1776. 



23 

ileet will be gone to Halifax, and the fishermen to Europe. 
I will not however, remain inactive, but proceed to cruize 
in the sloop near Sandy Hook. Three of my prizes have 
arrived here, and one or two more to the eastward. 

I am, &c. 

During the time he was at sea, he fell in with the frigate 
Solebay of 28 guns, near the island of Bermuda, and had a 
sharp action with her, which lasted several hours. The Pro- 
vidence carried but 1 2 guns, six-pounders, and Jones was ex- 
ceedingly fortunate in making his escape from an adversary 
so decidedly superior in force. Proceeding thence in the 
direction of Nova-Scotia, he had an encounter near Cape Sa- 
bles, with the Milford of 32 guns at long shot. Being unable 
to cope with her, he ran into a small harbour, and destroyed 
some fishing vessels. He next went to Isle-Madame, de- 
stroyed the fishing establishments there, and set on fire every 
vessel he could not take away. In effecting all this destruc- 
tion of property and loss to the enemy, he was absent not 
more than six weeks and five days. 

Some estimate may be formed of the individual profits 
accruing from the cruize in which Lieut. Jones had been 
occupied, from the number of his captures, and the follow- 
ing regulations of Congress for the distribution of prize- 
money : — 

In Congress, Jan. 6th, 1776. 

Resolved, That the commander in chief have one-twen- 
tieth part of prize-money, taken by any ship or ships, armed 
vessel or vessels, under his orders and command. 

That the captain of any single armed ship or vessel have 
two-twentieth parts for his share ; but if more ships or arm- 
ed vessels be in company when a prize is taken, then the 
two-twentieth parts be divided amongst all the said cap- 
tains. 

That the captain of marines, lieutenants of the ships or 
armed vessels, and masters thereof, share together, and have 
three-twentieth parts divided among them equally of all pri- 
zes taken when they are in company. 

That the lieutenants of marines, surgeons, chaplains, pur- 
sers, boatswains, gunners, carpenters, the masters' mates, 
and the secretary of the fleet, share together, and have two- 
twentieth parts and one half of one-twentieth part divided 



■2A 

Hiuong them equally, of all prizes taken when they are in 
company. 

That the following warrant and petty officers, viz. (allow- 
ing for each ship six midshipmen, for each brig four mid- 
shipmen, and each sloop two midshipmen, one captain's 
clerk, one surgeon's mate, one steward, one sail-maker, two 
carpenter's mates, one cook, one cockswain, two sergeants 
of marines for each ship, and one sergeant for each brig and 
sloop) have three-twentieth parts divided among them equal- 
ly; and when a prize is taken by any ship or vessel on 
board or in company in which the commander in chief is, 
then the commander in chief's cook or cockswain to be ad- 
ded to this allotment, and have their shares with these last 
mentioned. 

That the remaining eight-twentieth parts and one half of 
the twentieth part be divided amongst the rest of the ship 
or ships companies, as it may happen, share and share alike. 

That no officer or man have any share but such as are 
actually on board their several vessels when any prize or 
prizes are taken, excepting only such as may have been or- 
dered on board any other prizes before taken, or sent away 
by his or their commanding officers. 

Congress subsequently altered this regulation, as appears 
by the subjoined resolution, and probably upon the sugges- 
tion of Lieut. Jones, as the alteration took place so soon 
after he had written to Mr. Morris : 

In Congress, Oct. 30th, 177G. 

Resolved, That the rank of the officers of marines be the 
same as officers of similar commissions in the land service. 

That the commanders, officers, seamen, and marines, in 
the continental navy, be entitled to one half of merchant- 
men, transports, and store-ships, by them taken, from and 
after the first day of November, 1776, to be divided amongst 
them in the shares and proportions fixed by former resolu- 
tions of Congress. 

That the commanders, officers, seamen, and marines, in 
the continental navy, be entitled to the whole value of all 
ships and vessels of war belonging to the crown of Great 
Britain by them made prize of, and all privateers authorised 
by his Britannic Majestv to war against thp«o «fn<pi. <o bo 
divided as aforesaid. 



2o 



Lieut. Jones took command of a squadron in Rhode-Isl- 
and on the 22d of October, 1776, but finding that he could 
not man the ship and two small vessels of which it consisted 
without losing too much time, he determined to leave the 
Providence and proceed with the Alfred and Hampden. 
He took the men out of the Providence and her prizes, by 
Avhich means he made up a muster-roll of upward of 1 40. 
When, on the 27th, he was ready to proceed, the Hampden 
was run upon a sunken ledge, which knocked off her false 
keel, in consequence of which she became so leaky that she 
was condemned as not being sea-worthy, and the men were 
immediately shifted to the Providence. His expectations 
from the expedition were not sanguine, having been delayed 
in his arrangements a fortnight longer than he had contem- 
plated. He finally put to sea, with the Alfred and Provi- 
dence, in the month of November. In this adventure he 
took a vessel from Liverpool, and the armed ship Mellish, 
having on board a company of soldiers and 10,000 suits of 
uniform. This capture was very opportune. The Ameri- 
can army was much in want of clothing, and so valuable a 
prize tended to reanimate the spirits of the soldiers. He 
also took a third vessel on the 16th of November, and on 
the 18th following, the Providence parted company in the 
night. He proceeded, nevertheless, to Isle-Royale, destroy- 
ed a valuable transport there, and burnt the buildings appro- 
priated to the whale and cod-fisheries. Not far from that 
island he took another vessel, which was laden with ling 
and furs, and on the following day captured a privateer 
mounting sixteen guns. On his return to the continent, ho 
once more fell in with the Milford frigate, but eluded her, 
and, with his prizes, arrived at Boston, on the 10th of Pe- 
cember, 1776. 

The main object of the enterprise against Isle-Royale 
was not effected. The intention of Lieut. Jones was to 
liberate the Americans who were confined in the coal-mines 
there. He attributes the failure to the behavior of the offi- 
cer who commanded the Providence. In a letter to the 
Hon. Mr. Hewes, dated at Boston, on the 12th of January. 
1777, he remarks : " the captain of the Providence thought 
proper to dispense with his orders and give me the slip in 
the night, which entirely overset the expedition." In like 
manner he complains of a prize-master, who violated his 

D 



20 



instructions by going into Dartmouth, Mass., instead of a 
port in North-Carolina, whither he had been ordered. 

These irregularities arose altogether, it is believed, from 
the omission of Congress to establish a due gradation of 
rxink among the Officers of the navy. That body had been 
so incessantly employed in business of vital importance, both 
foreign and domestic ; and there were so many objects to at- 
tend to in the organization of a new government that they had 
little time to devote to minor details. It was not until three 
months after the Declaration of Independence that the rela- 
tive rank of Officers in the naval service was established. 
On the 10th of October 1776, it was settled in the following 
manner and a vessel assigned to each : 

Rank of Captains in the Navy, es 
Oct. lOth 1776, 
Commanders. 
No. 1 JameS Nicholson 

2 John Manly . 

3 Hector M'Neil 

4 Dudley Saltonstall 

5 Nicholas Biddle 

6 Thomas Thompson 

7 John Barry 

8 Thomas Read 

9 Thomas Grinnell 

10 Charles Alexander 

1 1 Lambert Wickes 

12 Abraham Whipple 

13 John B. Hopkins 

14 John Hodge . 

15 WiUiam Hallock 

16 Hoysted Hacker 

17 Isaiah Robinson 

1 8 John Paul Jones 

19 James Josiah . 

20 Elisha Hinman 

21 Joseph Olney . 

22 James Robinson 

23 John Young . 

24 Elisha Warner 
Lieut. John Baldwin 

. Lieut. Thomas Albertson 



tablished by Congress. 


viz.. 




Vessels. Guns. 


Virginia, 
Hancock, 


28 
32 


Boston, 


24 


. Trumbull, 


28 


Randolph, 
Raleigh, 


32 

32 


Effingham, 


28 


Washington, 


32 


Congress, 


28 


Delaware, 


24 


Reprisal, 


16 


Providence, 


28 


Warren, 


32 


Montgomery, 
Lexington, 


24 
16 


Hampden, — 
AndrewDoria,l4 


Providence, 


12 


. Alfred, 


28 


Cabot, 


16 


Sachem, 


10 


Independence 
. Fly, 
Wasp, 
Musquito, 


j,10 

8 

4 



•%■ 



Jones was by no means satisfied with this regulation ; and 
with the exception of Captains Saltonstall,Biddle, Whipple, 
and Hopkins, considered himself as having been superseded 
by the first seventeen on the list. It was probably for the 
purpose of soothing him, that Congress, on March the 1.5th 
1777, passed the subjoined resolution: 

In Congress, March 15, 1777. 
Resolved, That Daniel Waters, and Samuel Tucker, be 
appointed Captains in the Navy of the United States, and that 
they have the command of two of the three ships ordered 
to be purchased. And that the command of the other ship, 
be given to Captain John Paul Jones, until better provision 
can be made for him. 

On the same day that the relative rank of the Captains 
was fixed, a commission was made out for Captain Jones, 
which, as a revolutionary document, may gratify curiosity. 
It is expressed in these terms : 

IN CONGRESS. 

The Delegates of the United States of New-Hampshire, Mas- 
sachusetts-Bay, Rhode-Island, Connecticut, Mexo-York, 
New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, 
North-Carolina, South-Carolina, and Georgia, To 

JOHN PAUL JONES, ESQ. 

We, reposing especial trust and confidence in your pa- 
triotism, valour, conduct, and fidelity, DO, by these Presents, 
constitute and appoint you to be Captain in the Navy of the 
United States of North- America, fitted out for the Defence 
of American Liberty, and for repelling every hostile inva- 
sion thereof. You are therefore carefully and diligently to 
discharge the duty of Captain by doing and performing all 
manner of things thereunto belonging. And we do strictly 
charge and require all Officers, Marines, and Seamen under 
your command, to be obedient to your orders as Captain. 
And you are to observe and follow such orders and directions 
from time to time, as you shall receive from this or a future 
Congress of the United States, or Committee of Congress 
for that purpose appointed, or Commander-in-Chief for the 
time being of the Navy of the United States, or any other 
your superior Officer, according to the Rules and discipline 
of War, the usage of the sea, and the instructions herewith 
given you, in pursuance of the trust reposed in you. This 



t oiiuuission to continue in t'orce until revoked by this or a 

future Congress. 

T)ated at Philadelphia, October lOth 1776. 

By Order of the Congress, 

John Hancock, President. 
Attest, Charles Thomson, Secretary. 

The uniform of the Officers of the Navy had been regu- 
lated by the Marine Committee on the 5th of September 
1776. It may be gratifying to those of the present day to 
be informed what it was. It is thus described in a resolution 
of the Committee : 

In Marine Committee, 

Philadelphia, September 5, 1776. 
Resolved, That the uniform of the Officers in the Navy 
of the United States be as follows : 

Captains. Blue cloth with red lappels, slash cuff, stand 

up collor, flat yellow buttons, blue britches, 
red waistcoat with narrow lace. 
Lieutenants. — Blue with red lappels, a round cuff faced, 
stand up collor, yellow buttons, blue britches, 
red waistcoat plain. 

Masters.^ Blue with lappels, round cuff, blue britches, 

and red waistcoat. 
Midshipmen. — Blue lappeled coat, a round cuff, faced with 
red, stand up collor, with red at the button 
and button hole, blue britches, and red waist- 
coat. 

Extract from the Minutes, 

John Brown, Secretary. 

Uniform of the Marine Officers. 

A green coat faced with white, round cuff, slash'd 
sleeves and pockets, with buttons round the cuff, silver 
epaulett on the right shoulder, — skirts turned back, but- 
tons to suit the facings. 

White waistcoat and britches edged with green, black 
gaiters and garters, green shirts for the men if they can be 
procured. 

The respect to be paid to the pendant and to continental 
ships of war. was enjoined by Congress on the 29th of Oo- 



29 

tober, 1776, in the resolution which follows. The national 
flag was not definitively established until June of the suc- 
ceeding year : 

In Congress, October 29, 1776. 

Resolved, That no private ships or vessels of war, mer- 
chant ships, or other vessels belonging to the subjects of 
these States, be permitted to wear pendants when in com- 
pany with continental ships or vessels of war, without leave 
from the commanding oflicer thereof: 

That if any merchant ship or vessel shall wear pendants 
in company with continental ships or vessels of war, with- 
out leave from the commander thereof, such commander be 
authorised to take away the pendant from the offender : 

That if private ships or vessels of war refuse to pay the 
respect due to the commanders of ships or vessels of war, the 
captain or commander so refusing shall lose his commission. 

On the 15th of November, 1776, the Congress granted a 
bounty to the officers and men for the capture of enemy 
vessels, established the relative rank of the officers in the 
navy and army, and fixed the pay of the officers and men in 
the navy, as specified in the annexed resolution. To the 
rate of pay in 1776, is added the pay in 1825, from a com- 
parison of which the increase of compensation in the course 
of the last f(5rty-nine years may be discerned : 

** In Congress, November 15th, 177C. 

Resolved, That a bounty of twenty dollars be paid to the 
commanders, officers, and men of such continental ships or 
vessels of war as shall make a prize of any British ships or 
vessels of war, for every cannon mounted on board such 
prize at the time of such capture ; and eight dollars per 
head, for every man then on board and belonging to such 
prize : 

That the rank of the naval officers be to the rank of offi- 
cers in the land service, as follows : 

Admiral, as a General, 

Vice Admiral, " Lieut. General, 

Rear Admiral, '* Major General, 

Commodore, " ^ Brig. General, 

Captain of a ship of 40 guns and upwards, Colonel, 

Do. 20 to 40 guns, as a Lieut. Colonel. 

Do. of a ship of 10 to 20 guns, " Major, 

Lieutenant in the navy, '' Captain. 



30 



That the pay of all officers and men in tlie American 
navy, from the date of the new commissions under the free 
and independent States of America, be as follows : 



Of Ships of 20 guns. 

Captain, 

Lieutenant, 

Master, 

Mate, 

Boatswain, 
Mate 



Per calendar month. Of 10 to 20 guns. 
In 1776. In 1825. In 1776. 



Gunner, 



Mate, 



Surgeon, 



Mate, 



Carpenter, 

► Mate 

Cooper, 
Midshipman, 
Armourer, 
Sail-Maker, 

Mate, 

Yeoman, 

Quarter-Master, 

Cook, 

Cockswain, 

Captain's Clerk, 

Steward, 

Chaplain, 

Yeoman of powder room, 

Master-at-Arms, 

Seaman, 



^60 
30 
30 
15 
15 

15 

25 
15 
15 

91 

^2 

9 
12 

9 
10 

H 

H 

9 

9 

9 
15 
10 
20 

9i 
10 

8 



^100 
40 
40 
20 
20 
19 
20 

50 
30 
20 
19 
18 
19 
18 
20 



18 
18 
18 
25 
18 
40 

18 
12 



^48 
24 
24 
15 
13 
9 
13 
9 
21| 

13 
9 
9 

12 
9 

10 
8^ 
H 
H 
8i 
9 

12 

10 

9 
9 
8 



That vessels under ten guns be commanded by lieutenants ; 
That the pay of the officers in such vessels be — 



Lieutenant Commanding, ^30 
Mate, ... 15 
Boatswain, . . 12 

Gunner, . . 12 

Carpenter, . . 12 

That the other officers and men, 
from ten to twenty guns. 
Marine officers — Captain, ^30 
I^ieutenant. 20 



^50 

40 

20 

20 

20 
the same as in vessels 

^40 
30 



'k 



.31 

Non-commissioned officers and soldiers, tiie same as in 
the land service. 

Allowances for subsistence were made on the 21st of July, 
1777. The following is the resolution for that object : — 

In Congress, July 21st, 1777. 

Resolved, That commanders of continental vessels of war 
of ten guns and upwards, be allowed five and one-third dol- 
lars per week for subsistence, while in domestic or foreign 
ports : 

That commanders of vessels under ten guns, be allowed 
four dollars per week for subsistence, while in domestic or 
foreign ports : 

That commanders of continental vessels of war of ten 
guns and upwards, be allowed whilst at sea two dollars and 
two-thirds per week, for cabin expenses : 

That lieutenants, surgeons, captains of marines, and chap- 
lains, be allowed four dollars per week subsistence in do- 
mestic ports, during such times as the ships they respect- 
ively belong to are .not in condition to receive them on 
board : 

That the marine committee be empowered to allow such 
cabin furniture for continental vessels of war, as they shall 
judge proper. 

Jones was now acting under the commission of captain 
from the independent authorities of the United States of 
America. He had, indeed, performed all the duties of a 
captain in virtue of his previous appointment. That ap- 
pointment, together with all those which were made on the 
22d of December, 1775, before the Colonies had proclaim- 
ed their separation from Great Britain, was produced by 
British maritime aggressions, which the Congress determined 
to resist and punish. Resolutions were adopted assigning 
the reasons which impelled the United Colonies to reprisal ; 
and as they may be viewed as the origin of the American 
naval establishment, it may not be displeasing to the reader 
to be furnished with an opportunity of perusing them in this 
volume. They are as follow : — 

In Congress, November 25th, 1775. 
Whereas, it appears from undoubted information, that 
many vessels which had cleared at the respective custom- 
houses in these Colonies, agreeably to the regulations esta- 



32 

blished by acts of the British Parhament, have, in a lawless 
manner, without even the semblance of just authority, been 
seized by his Majesty's ships of a. ar, and carried into the 
harbor of Boston and other ports, where they have been 
rifled of their cargoes, by orders of his Majesty's naval and 
military officers there commanding, without the said vessels 
having been proceeded against by any form of trial, and 
without the charge of having ofTended against any law. 

And whereas, orders have been issued in his Majesty's 
name to commanders of his ships of war, " to proceed as 
in the case of actual rebellion against such of the sea-port 
towns and places being accessible to the king's ships, in 
which any troops shall be raised or military works erected," 
under color of which said orders, the commanders of his 
Majesty's said ships of war have already burned and de- 
stroyed the flourishing and populous town of Falmouth, and 
have fired upon and much injured several other towns with- 
in the United Colonies, and dispersed at a late season of the 
year, hundreds of helpless women and childrfn, with a sa- 
vage hope that those may perish under the approaching 
rigors of the season who may chance to escape destruction 
from fire and sword, a mode of warfare long exploded amongst 
civilized nations. 

And whereas, the good people of these Colonies, sensi- 
bly affected by the destruction of their property, and other 
unprovoked injuries, have at last determined to prevent as 
much as possible a repetition thereof, by fitting out armed 
vessels and ships of force : in the execution of which com- 
mendable designs, it is possible that those who have not 
been instrumental in the unwarrantable violences above 
mentioned may suffer, unless some laws be made to regulate 
and tribunals erected competent to determine the propriety 
of captures : Therefore, 

Resolved, That all ships of war, frigates, sloops, cutters, 
and armed vessels, as are or shall be employed in the pre- 
sent cruel and unjust war against the United Colonies, and 
shall fall into the hands of, or be taken by the inhabitants 
thereof, be seized and forfeited to and for the purposes here- 
in after mentioned : 

That all transport vessels in the same service, having on 
board any troops, arms, ammunition, clothing, provisions, 
or military or naval stores of what kind soever, and all ves- 
'^els to whomsoever belonging, that shall be employed in 



■i.i 

canyiag provisions or other necessaiies lo the liriiisli arnu 
or armies, or navy, that now are or shall hereafter be with- 
in any of the United Colonies, or any goods, wares, or mer- 
chandise, for the use of such fleet or army, shall be liable 
to seizure, and, with their cargoes, shall be confiscated : 

That no master or commander of any vessel shall be en- 
titled to cruize for, or make prize of any vessel or cargo, 
before he shall have obtained a commission from the Con- 
gress, or from such person or persons as shall be for that 
purpose appointed in some one of the United Colonies : 

That when any vessel or vessels shall be fitted out at the 
expense of any private person or persons, then the captures 
shall be to the use of the owner or owners of the said vessel 
or vessels : that where the vessels employed in the capture 
shall be fitted out at the expense of any of the United Colo- 
nies, then one-third of the prize taken shall be to the use of 
the captors, and the remaining two-thirds to the use of the 
said Colony ; and where the vessels so employed shall be 
fitted out at the continental charge, then one-third shall go 
to the captors, and the remaining two-thirds to the use of 
the United Colonies : provided, nevertheless, that if the 
capture be a vessel of war, then the captors shall be enti- 
tled to one-half of the value, and the remainder shall go to 
the Colony or Continent as the case may be, the necessary 
charges of condemnation of all prizes being deducted before 
distribution made : 

That the captures heretofore made by vessels fiiied ouL 
at the continental charge were justifiable, and that the dis- 
tribution of the captor's share of the prizes by Gen. Wash- 
ington be confirmed, which is as follows : — 





Shares. 




Share 


Captain or Commander, 6 


A Mate, 


u 


First Lieutenant, 


5 


Gunner, 


H 


Second Lieutenant, 


4 


Gunner's Mate, 


l| 


Surgeon, 


4 


Boatswain, 


U 


Master, 


3 


Sergeant, 


ll 


Steward, 


2 


Private, 


1 



After receiving his commission of the 1 0th of October 1 77G, 
Capt. Jones was more intent than ever on devising the 
means of advancing the condition of the navy. He looked 
forward to its augmentation and perfection, and continued 
to present his reflections as to the course that should be pur- 

E 



34 

sued to attain those objects. Many of his ideas were valua- 
ble, and some of them have, in substance, been carried into 
effect by the present government upon a large scale. 
Writing to his friend, the Honorable Robert Morris, on the 
10th of February 1777, he said — 

" There are no officers more immediately wanted in the 
marine department, than commissioners of dock yards, to 
superintend the building, and outfit of all ships of war ; 
with power to appoint deputies to provide and have in 
constant readiness, sufficient quantities of provision, stores, 
slops, &;c., so that the small number of ships we have, 
may be constantly employed, and not continue idle as they 
do at present : besides all the advantages that would arise 
from such appointments, the saving which would accrue to 
the continent is worth attending to ; had such men been ap- 
pointed at the first, the new ships might have been at sea 
long ago. The difficulty now lays in finding men who are 
deserving, and who are fitly qualified for an office of such 
importance." 

" I must repeat what I asserted formerly, that unless 
some happy expedient can be fallen upon to induce the sea- 
men to enter into the service for a longer term than twelve 
months, it will never be possible to bring them under pro- 
per subordination ; and subordination is as necessary, nay. 
far more so in the fleet, than in the army. Present advan- 
tagesji^ough small, will operate far more on the minds of 
seamen, than future prospects, though great. They ought 
at least to enter during the war, if not during pleasure." 

In fulfilment of the resolution of Congress of the 1 7th of 
March 1777, the Marine Committee addressed a letter to 
Capt. Jones in the following terms : — 

In Marine Committee. 

Philadelphia, March 25th, 1777. 
The Congress, by a resolve of the 17th Inst., having or- 
dered that the agent at Boston should purchase, arm, and 
fit out, for the service of the United States, three fast sail- 
ing good ships, that will conveniently mount 1 8 six-pound- 
ers on one deck ; and that Capt. John Paul Jones shall 
command one of said ships, until better provision can be 
made for him: Therefore, 



Resolved, That Capt. Jones shall have his choice o( thosp 
three ships, and that he superintend the fitting of her out. 
Extract from the minutes. 

John Brown, Secrctarr/. 

In Marine Committee. 

Sir, Philadelphia, March '25th, 1777. 

The agent, Mr. Bradford, has orders from this Committee 
to purchase and fit out, three armed vessels, pursuant to a 
resolve of Congress, which is transmitted to him, one of 
which you are to command, and the Committee have 
directed that you should- have your choice. Therefore 
you are desired to make your election as soon as the pur- 
chase shall be made, and to superintend and hasten the fit- 
ting her out for sea, with all possible expedition. 
We are. Sir, 
Your very humble servants, 

John Hancock, 
William Whipple. 
William Ellery. 
Abraham Clarke. 
Oliver Wolcott, 
Thomas Banke, 
Robert Morris. 
To Capt. John Paul Jones. 

Before this plan was carried into execution, Jones received 
a new and honorable proof of the good opinion of Congress, 
by being ordered to proceed to France from Portsmouth in 
the French ship Amphitrite, with a positive order to the 
American commissioners at Paris to invest him with the 
command of a fine ship, as a reward for the zeal he had 
shown, and for the signal services which he had performed 
in vessels of little force. By the annexed letter to Mr. 
John Dobie it would seem that he was making preparations 
to embark in the Amphitrite ; but, on account of difticul- 
ties made by her commander, he abandoned the design : 

Boston, May '23d, 1777. 
Mr. John Dobie, 
You are hereby authorized to engage any prime steamen 
who may present themselves to serve under my comniand 
in the navy on board the ship Amphitrite. at Portsmouth in 



New-llampshiic, bound to France. — On arrival there they 
are to be turned over to one of the finest frigates of the French 
navy, she having been purchased for the United States by 
their commissioners at the court of Paris and to be put under 
my command. — You are directed to repair on board the ship 
at Portsmouth without loss of time, and your reasonable ex- 
penses will be allowed, as also the reasonable expenses of as 
many prime seamen as you may bring with jou in proper 
time. If a passage can be procured from hence to Ports- 
mouth by water it will be the cheapest and best conveyance, 
especially for baggage. 

John P. Jones. 

Capt. Jones had before, in one of his letters to a member 
of Congress, recommended that one of his prizes, the MeHish, 
should be converted into a ship of war. This had been de- 
termined upon by the Marine Committee, but, upon the re- 
ceipt of a letter from him in May 1777, the determination 
was abandoned, and he was appointed to the command of the 
Ranger. That committee wrote the following letter to him, 
from which it may be inferred that he was growing in the 
esteem of Congress and in favour with the public in 
i:;cneral : 

In Marine Committee, 

Philadelphia, June 1 Sfh, 1 777. 
•loHN Paul Jones, Esq. 
Sir, 

Your letter of the 26th May to the secret committee was 
laid before Congress, and in consequence thereof, the de- 
sign of fitting the Mellish is laid aside ; and you are appoint- 
ed to command the Ranger ship of war lately built at Ports- 
mouth. Col. Whipple the bearer of this carries with him 
the resolves of Congress appointing you to this command, 
and authorizing him, Col. Langdon, and you, to appoint the 
other commissioned as well as the warrant officers necessary 
for this ship, and he has with him blank commissions and 
warrants for this purpose. 

It is our desire that you get the Ranger equipped, officered, 
and manned as well and as soon as possible, and probably we 
may send you other instructions, before you are ready tosail. 
However the design of the present is to prevent your waiting for 
'-nrh nfter you are ready for service in every other respect, 



and if that happens before the receipt of farther orders from 
us, you must then proceed on a cruize against the enemies 
of those United States, conforming to the orders and regula- 
tions of Congress made for the government of the navy ; 
and in conformity thereto, take, sink, burn, or destroy all 
such of the enemies ships, vessels, goods, and effects as you 
may be able. 

We shall not limit you to any particular cruizing station, 
but leave you at large to search for yourself where the great- 
est chance of success presents. Your prizes you will send 
into such safe ports in these United States as they can reach, 
your prisoners must also be sent in, and we recommend them 
to kind treatment. 

Any useful intelligence that comes to your knowledge 
must be communicated to us whenever you have opportu- 
nity. 

You are to preserve good order and discipline, but use 
your people well. The ship, her materials, and stores must 
be taken good care of, and every officer to answer to any em- 
bezzlements that happen in his department. You are to 
make monthly returns of your officers, men, &c. to the Navy 
Board, you are to be exceedingly attentive to the cleanli- 
ness of your ship and preservation of the peoples healths. 

You are to afford assistance and protection to the Ameri- 
can commerce whenever in your power ; and on your return 
from this cruize, lay copies of your journal and log-book 
before the Navy Board, and inform us the events of your 
voyage. We are, Sir, 

Your friends and servants, 

John Hancock, 
Robert Morris, 
Philip Livingston, 
Benjamin Harrison, 

A. MiDDLETON, 

Nicholas Van-Dvke, 
George Walton. 

The resolutions referred to are as follow : The designa- 
tion of the flag and the appointment of Captain Jones to the 
command of the Ranger on the same day, would seem to im- 
ply some connexion between the two circumstances. The 
Ranger was probably the first ship that bore the national 
flag to Europe. 



In Congress, June 14th, 1777,. 

Resolved, That the flag of the thirteen United States, be 
thirteen stripes, alternate red and white: that the Union 
be thirteen stars, white in a bhie field, representing a new 
constellation. 

Resolved, That Captain John Paul Jones be appointed to 
command the ship Ranger. 

Resolved, That William Whipple, Esq. member of Con- 
gress, and of the Marine Committee, John Langdon Esq. 
continental agent, and the said John Paul Jones, be autho- 
rised to appoint heutenants and other commissioned, and 
warrant officers, necessary for the said ship ; and that blank 
commissions and warrants be sent them, to be filled up with 
the names of the persons they appoint, returns whereof to 
be made to the Navy Board in the eastern department. 

The subjoined letter to Lieutenant Elijah Hall shows that 
Captain Jones dealt frankly and honorably with his seamen. 
This was as wise as it was just, for the surest method of se- 
curing cheerful obedience, and preserving harmony among 
a ship's crew, is to inspire them at the out-set with confi- 
dence in the integrity and equity of the commander : 

Portsmouth JV. H. July 29th, 1777, 

Lieut. Elijah Hall, U. S. J^avy. 
Sir, 

As I learn from you that the seamen who have entered for 
the Ranger, for one cruize, expect to receive an advance of 
forty dollars, and that the landsmen expect to receive an ad- 
vance of twenty dollars, as mentioned in the hand bills, and 
as I would by no means deceive any man who has entered, 
or who may enter, to serve under my command, it is proper 
that you should inform them, that at the time when Con- 
gress agreed to that advance, there was no intention of en- 
tering men except for three years, during the war, or for one 
year at least; yet, as I consider myself under an obligation 
to those men, who have so cheerfully entered, it being a 
proof of their good opinion of me, I would at my own risk, 
give them orders on the agent here, for the above advance 
or for such part of it, as they may find really necessary, but 
upon inquiry, 1 am convinced that this would be contrary 
to the rules of Congress, and therefore hurtful to the ser- 
vice. I will, however, besides the bounty, give an order on 
the agent, or paymaster of the navy, for the punctual pay- 



39 

inent of half the monthly wages, to every person under my 
command, who may leave wives or attorneys behind them, 
to receive it in their absence, as it afterward becomes due, 
provided they enter for the term of twelve months, other- 
wise I am authorised to advance no more than one month's 
pay, besides slops to persons who enter only for one cruize. 
I wish to see every person about me happy and contented, 
and will do every thing in my power to make them so. The 
conditions of the hand bills, will be strictly complied with, 
and 

I am, Sir, 

Your very obedient 

and most humble servant. 
John Paul Jones. 
The above is a true copy from the original in my posses"- 
sion. 

Elijah Hall. 
Portsmouth Sept. 2dth, 1824. 

Captain Jones was now on the eve of his departure for 
France. During his stay at Boston, in the month of May, 
he wrote a letter to Stuart Mawey, Esq., which places his 
character in a new light. It would seem from that letter, 
that he had once been a merchant in Tobago, and that he 
had pecuniary resources in that island as well as in England, 
from which, by untoward circumstances, he had been cut off 5 
what these were he does not reveal. They probably arose 
from that misfortune at which he hinted in a letter to the 
Hon. Mr. Morris, as being known, to the Hon. Mr. Hewes. 
According to his own account, he was in extreme distress 
when he joined the standard of America. But the letter to 
Mr. Mawey contains no expressions of regret for the part 
he had taken in the revolution. On the contrary, he de- 
clares his unshaken determination to adhere to the fortunes 
of America. The letter does infinite credit to the heart of 
Capt. Jones ; and, after reading it, no impartial mind will 
venture to denounce him as illiterate, vulgar, unfeeling, or 
unprincipled. The sentiments which he expresses for hrs 
mother are true to nature, tender, and touching, and show 
that the profession of arms had not estranged his bosom from 
the more refined and affectionate sensations : 



iU 

Boston, May 4th, 1777. 

Stewart Mawey, Esq. Tobago. 
Dear Sir, 

After an unprofitable suspense of twenty months, (haviog 
subsisted on ^fti/ pounds only during that time,) when my 
hopes of rehef were entirely cut off, and there remained no 
possibility of my receiving wherewithal to subsist upon from 
my effects in your island, or in England, 1 at last had re- 
course to strangers for that aid and comfort which was de- 
nied me by those friends whom I had entrusted with my all. 
The good offices which are rendered to persons in their ex- 
treme need, ought to make deep impressions on grateful 
minds. In my case, I feel the truth of that sentiment, and 
am bound by gratitude as well as honor to follow the for- 
tunes of my late benefactors. 

I have lately seen Mr. Secaton, (late manager on the es- 
tate of Archibald Stuart, Esq.) who informed me that Mr. 
Ferguson had quitted Orange Valley, on being charged with 
the unjust application of the property of his employers. I 
have been, and am extremely concerned at this account : — 
I wish to disbelieve it, although it seems too much of a piece 
with the unfair advantage which, to all appearance, he took 
of me, when he left me in exile for twenty months, a prey 
to melancholy and want, and witliheld my property witlkout 
writing a word in excuse of his conduct. 

Thus circumstanced, 1 have taken the liberty of sending 
you a letter of attorney by Capt. Clcaveland, who under- 
takes to deliver it himself, as he goes for Tobago via. Mar- 
tinico. You have, enclosed, a copy of a list of debts ac- 
knowledged, which I received from Mr. Ferguson when I 
saw you last at Orange Valley. You have also, a list of 
debts contracted with me, together with Ferguson's receipt,* 
and there remained a considerable property unsold, besides 
some best Madeira wine, which he had shipped for London. 
By the state of accounts which I sent to England on my 
arrival on this Continent, there was a balance due to me 
from the ship Betsey, of 909/. 1 55. 3rf. sterling ; and in my 
account with Robert Young, Esq. of the 29th of January, 

■"*■' Copies of these lists are enclosed in the copy which Capt. Jones re- 
tained of this letter, and are now in the possession of the author of this vo- 
lume. They are written in a fair hand, and the sums put down in count- 
inar-house order. 



I 



■u 

1773, there appeared a balance in my lavor oi miL 1^. mL 
sterling. These sums exceed my drafts and just debts 
together, so that if I am fairly dealt with, I ought to receive 
a considerable remittance from that quarter. 

You will please to observe, that there were nine pieces 
of coarse camlet shipped at Cork, over and above the quan- 
tity expressed in the bill of lading. It seems the shippers, 
finding their mistake, applied for the goods, and, as I have 
been informed from Grenada, Mr. Ferguson laid hold of this 
opportunity to propagate a report that all the goods which 
I put into his hands was the property of that house in Cork. 
If this base suggestion has gained belief, it accounts for all 
the neglect which I have experienced. But, however, my 
connexions are changed — my principles as a man of can- 
dor and of integrity are the same ; therefore, should there 
not be a sufficiency of my property in England to answer 
my just debts, I declare that it is my first wish to make up 
such deficiency from my property in Tobago ; and were 
even that also to fall short, I am ready and willing to make 
full and ample remittances from hence, upon hearing from 
you the true state of my affairs. As I hope my dear mother 
is still alive, I must inform you that I wish my property in 
Tobago or in England, after paying my just debts, to be 
appUed for her support. Your own feelings, my dear Sir, 
make it unnecessary for me to use arguments to prevail 
with you on this tender point. Any remittances which you 
may be enabled to make, through the hands of my good 
friend, Capt. John Plainer, of Cork, will be faithfully put 
into her hands. She has several orphan grand-children to 
provide for. I have made no apology for giving you this 
trouble : my situation will, I trust, obtain your free pardon. 
You can, if you please, correspond with me via. any of 
the French or Dutch islands, by addressing your letters to 
John P. Jones, and care of the Hon. Robert Morris, Esq. 
Philadelphia, or I can hear from you through the hands o<" 
my friend, Capt. Plainer ; he is frequently at Grenada, and 
perhaps may be there when this reaches your hands. 
I am always, with perfect esteem, &c. 

The Ranger at length put to sea, and, on the 2d of Deccni- 
l>er 1777, arrived at Nantes in France. From that port 
Capt. Jones proceeded, on the 13th of February J 778, to 
QuibcTon Bay, and Brest, where he saluted the Frent!: 

F 



Ww^ 



4 -J 

Admual, Count D'Orvilliers, with thirteen guns, which was 
returned with nine. This was the first salute of honour 
that the American flag had received from a foreign man- 
of-war. Jones delayed his salute, until assured from au- 
thority, that the compliment would be reciprocated. 

Whilst at Nantes, Capt. Jones was favored by the 
American Commissioners with a letter of credit for 500 
louis d'ors, which proves that he acted in concert with 
the public authorities of the United States, both at home 
and abroad. As a document establishing this fact, it is 
deemed proper to embody it in this account of his life. 

Passy, Jan. lOth. 1778. 
Jonathan Williams, Esq. Nantes. 

Sir, 
We desire you would advance to Capt. Paul Jones, of 
the Ranger, five hundred louis d'ors, for which your draft 
upon us will be paid. 

We are, Sir, 
Your most obedient servants, 
B. Franklin, 
Silas Dean, 
Arthur Lee. 

After considerable delay and many obstacles, most of 
which he attributed to the want of cordiality in the first 
lieutenant of the Ranger, and a spirit of mutiny among 
the crew, he sailed from Brest on the 1 3th of April, on a 
cruize in the Irish Channel, entered upon a very hazard- 
ous enterprise against Whitehaven, and spread great ter- 
ror along the shores of Great Britain and Ireland. 

On the same day of the descent at Whitehaven, another 
memorable occurrence took place, which contributed, for 
a time, to add greatly to the odium which the first had 
brought on his character, but which in the end enabled him 
to prove that he was possessed of the most disinterested 
and heroic qualities. In cruising off the coast of Gallo- 
way, it occurred to him, that, if he could get into his 
power a man of high rank and influence in the state, he 
should be able, by retaining him as a hostage, to ensure to 
the American prisoners of war more lenient treatment from 
the British government. Knowing that the Earl of Selkirk 
possessed a seat in St. Mary's Isle, a beautiful peninsula at 



i. 



43 

(he mouth of the Dee, and being ill-informed with regard iv 
the poUtical connexions of that nobleman, he destined him 
for the subject of his experiment. 

It was in this adventure that he permitted the seizure ol 
the plate of Lord Selkirk, at St. Mary's Isle, which he after- 
ward purchased and restored. 

National prejudice has misrepresented this transaction ; 
and in order to heighten the popular indignation againsi 
Jones, it has been common to state, that his attempt on the 
person, and as it was supposed, the property of Lord Sel- 
kirk, was aggravated by ingratitude, his father having eaten 
of that nobleman's bread. Nothing can be more false. 
Neither Mr. Paul, nor any of his kindred, ever was in the 
earl's employ, or had even the most distant connexion witli 
his lordship, or his family, and in a correspondence which 
took place betwixt Jones and Lady Selkirk, relative to the 
restitution of the plate, a most honorable testimony was grate- 
fully paid by Lord Selkirk to the Captain's character. 

In connexion with the attempt upon Whitehaven, was the 
capture of the British ship of war Drake, of 20 guns. Cap- 
tain Jones has given so particular an account of these ex- 
ploits in a letter to the Commissioners of the United States, 
at Paris, that it will be preferred to any narrative of them 
that could be framed by another hand : 

Letter to the American Commissioners at Paris. 

Brest, May, 27, 1778. 
Gentlemen, 

I now fulfil the promise made in my last, by giving you an 
account of my late expedition. 

I sailed from Brest 10th of April. My plan was extensive. 
I therefore, did not, at the beginning, wish to encumber my 
self with prisoners. On the 14th I took a brigantine be- 
tween Scylla and Cape Clear, bound from Ostend with a 
cargo of flaxseed for Ireland, sunk her, and proceeded into 
St. George's Channel. On the 17th I took the ship Lord 
Chatham, bound from London to Dublin, with a cargo con- 
sisting of porter and a variety of merchandise, and almost 
within sight of her port ; the ship I manned and ordered for 
Brest. Towards the evening of the day following, the 
weather had a promising appearance, and the winds being 
favorable I stood over from the Isle of Man, with an inten- 
tion to njaji^ a descent at Whitehaven. At 1 o'clock. I 



4-1 

was off the harbour with a party of volunteers, and had 
f^ J every thing in readiness to land, but, before eleven, the 
f^:,. wind greatly increased, and shifted so as to blow directly 
upon the shore ; the sea increased of course, and it became 
impossible to effect a landing. This obliged me to carry 
all possible sail, so as to clear the land, and to await a more 
favorable opportunity. On the 1 8th, in Glenbue Bay, on 
the south coast of Scotland, I met with a revenue wherry; 
it being the common practice of these vessels to board mer- 
chant ships, and the Ranger then having no external ap- 
pearance of war, it was expected that this rover would have 
come alongside. I was, however, mistaken, for, though the 
men were at their quarters, yet this vessel outsailed the 
Ranger, and got clear, in spite of a severe cannonade. 

The next morning, off the Mull of Galloway, I found my- 
self so near a Scotch coasting schooner, loaded with bar- 
ley, that I could not avoid sinking her. Understanding 
that 10 or 12 sail of merchant ships, besides a tender 
brigantine, with a number of impressed seamen on board, 
were at anchor in Loughryan in Scotland, I thought this 
an enterprise worthy attention, but the wind, which at the 
jQrst, would have served equally well to sail in or out of the 
Lough, shifted in a hard squall so as to blow almost directly 
in, with an appearance of bad weather; I was therefore 
obliged to abandon my project. 

Seeing a cutter off the lee-bow steering for the Clyde, I 
gave chase in hopes of cutting her off; but finding my en- 
deavours ineffectual, I pursued no farther than the rock of 
Ailsa. In the evening I fell in with a sloop from Dublin, 
which I sunk to prevent intelligence. 

The next day, the 21st, being near Carrickfergus, a fish- 
ing boat came off, which I detained. I saw a ship at an- 
chor in the road, which, I was informed by the fisherman, 
was the British ship of war Drake, of 20 guns. I de- 
termined to attack her in the night. My plan was to 
overlay her cable, and to fall upon her bow, so as to have 
all her decks open, and exposed to our musketry, &c. ; at 
the same time it was my intention to have secured the ene- 
my by graplings, so that, had they cut their cables, they 
would not thereby have attained an advantage. The wind 
was high, and unfortunately, the anchor was not let go 
so soon as the order was given ; so that the Ranger was 
brought up on the enemy's quarter, at the distance of hajf 



4i> 

a cable's length. We had made no warlike appearance, ol 
course had given no alarm : this determined me to cut im- 
mediately, which might appear as if the cable had parted, 
and, at the same time, enabling me, after making a tack out 
of the Lough, to return with the same prospect of advan- 
tage which I had at the first. I was, however, prevented 
from returning ; as I with difficulty weathered the light- 
house on the lee side of the Lough, and as the gale in- 
creased. 

The weather now became so very stormy and severe, and 
the sea so high, that 1 was obliged to take shelter under the 
south shore of Scotland. The 22d introduced fair wea- 
ther; though the three kingdoms as far as the eye could 
reach were covered with snow. I now resolved, once 
more to attempt Whitehaven ; but the wind became very 
light, so that the ship could not in proper time, approach 
so near as I had intended. At midnight I left the ship, 
with two boats, and thirty-one volunteers. When we 
reached the outer pier, the day began to dawn. I would 
not, however, abandon my enterprise ; but despatched one 
boat under the direction of Mr. Hill and Lieutenant Wal- 
lingsford, with the necessary combustibles, to set fire to the 
shipping on the north side of the harbor, while 1 went with 
the other party, to attempt the south side. I was successful 
in scaling the walls, and spiking up all the cannon in the 
first fort. Finding the sentinels shut up in the guard house, 
they were secured without being hurt. Having fixed senti- 
nels, I now took with me one man only, (Mr. Green,) and 
spiked up all the cannon on the southern fort ; distant from 
the other, a quarter of a mile. 

On my return from this business, I naturally expected to 
see the fire of the ships on the north side, as well as to find 
my own party with every thing in readiness to set fire to the 
shipping in the south. Instead of this, I found the boat un- 
der the direction of Mr. Hill and Mr. Wallingsford returned, 
and the party in some confusion, their light having burnt 
out at the instant when it became necessary. By the 
strangest fatality, my own party were in the same situation, 
the candles being allburnt out. The day too came on apace ; 
yet I would by no means retreat, while any hopes of success 
remained. Having again placed sentinels, a light was ob- 
tained at a house disjoined from the town ; and fire was kin- 
dled in the steerage of a large ship, which was surrounded 



4(} 

by at least an hundred and fifty others, chiefly Irom two Iv 
ibur hundred tons burthen, and laying side by side aground, 
unsurrounded by the water. There were besides, from 
seventy to an hundred large ships in the north arm of the 
harbor, aground, clear of the water, and divided from the 
rest only by a stone pier of a ship's height. I should have 
kindled fires in other places, if the time had permitted. As 
it did not, our care was to prevent the one kindled from being 
easily extinguished. After some search, a barrel of tar 
was found, and poured into the flames, which now ascended 
from all the hatchways. The inhabitants began to appear 
in thousands ; and individuals ran hastily towards us. I 
stood between them and the ship on fire, with a pistol in my 
hand, and ordered them to retire, which they did with pre- 
cipitation. The flames had already caught the rigging, and 
began to ascend the mainmast : — the sun was a full hour's 
march above the horizon ; and as sleep no longer ruled the 
world, it was time to retire. We re-embarked without op- 
position, having released a number of prisoners, as our boats 
could not carry them. After all my people had embarked, I 
stood upon the pier for a considerable time, yet no persons 
advanced. I saw all the eminences around the town covered 
with the amazed inhabitants. 

When we had rowed to a considerable distance from the 
shore, the English began to run in vast numbers to their 
forts. Their disappointment may easily be imagined, when 
they found at least thirty heavy cannon, the instruments of 
their vengeance, rendered useless. At length, however, they 
began to fire ; having, as I apprehend, either brought down 
ship guns, or used one or two cannon, which lay on the 
beach at the foot of the walls, dismounted, and which had 
not been spiked. They fired with no direction ; and the 
shot falling short of the boats, instead of doing us any da- 
mage, afforded some diversion ; which my people could not 
help showing, by discharging their pistols, &c. in return of 
the salute. Had it been possible to have landed a few hours 
sooner, my success would have been complete. Not a sin- 
gle ship, out of more than two hundred, could possibly have 
escaped, and all the world would not have been able to save 
the town. What was done, however, is sufficient to show, 
that not all their boasted navy can protect their own coasts ; 
and that the scenes of distress, which they have occasioned 
In America, may be soon brought home to their own door. 



47 

One of my people was missing; and must, I fear, have fall- 
en into the enemies' hands after our departure. I was 
pleased that in this business we neither killed nor wounded 
any person. I brought off three prisoners as a sample. 

We now stood over for the Scotch shore ; and i landed 
at noon at St. Mary's Isle, with one boat only, and a very 
small party. The motives which induced me to land there, 
are explained in the within copy of a letter which I have 
addressed to the Countess of Selkirk, dated the 8th inst. 

On the morning of the 24th, I was again off Carrickfergus, 
and would have gone in, had I not seen the Drake preparing 
to come out. It was very moderate, and the Drake's boat 
was sent out to reconnoitre the Ranger. As the boat ad- 
vanced, I kept the ship's stern directly towards her ; and 
though they had a spy-glass in the boat, they came on within 
hail, and along side. When the officer came on the quarter 
deck, he was greatly surprised to find himself a prisoner; al- 
though an express had arrived from Whitehaven the night 
before. I now understood, what I had before imagined, that 
the Drake came out in consequence of this information, 
with volunteers, against the Ranger. The officer told me 
also, that they had taken up the Ranger's anchor. The 
Drake was attended by five small vessels full of people, who 
were led by curiosity to see an engagement. But when 
they saw the Drake's boat at the Ranger's stern, they wisely 
put back. 

Alarm smokes now appeared in great abundance, extend- 
ing along on both sides of the channel. The tide was un- 
favorable, so that the Drake worked out but slowly. This 
obliged me to run down several times, and to lay with cour- 
ses up, and main-topsail to the mast. At length the Drake 
weathered the point, and having led her out to about mid- 
channel, I suffered her to come within hail. The Drake 
hoisted English colours, and at the same instant, the Ameri- 
can stars were displayed on board the Ranger. I expected 
that preface had been now at an end, but the enemy soon 
after hailed, demanding what ship it was? I directed the 
master to answer, " the American Continental ship Ranger ; 
that we waited for them, and desired that they would come 
on ; the sun was now little more than an hour from setting, 
it was therefore time to begin." The Drake being astern 
of the Ranger, I ordered the helm up, and gave her the first 
broadside. The action was warm, close, and obstinate. Ft 



48 

lasted an hour and four minutes, when the enemy called foi- 
quarters 5 her fore and main-topsail yards being both cut 
away, and down on the cap ; the top-gallant yard and mizen- 
gaff both hanging up and down along the mast ; the second 
ensign which they had hoisted shot away, and hanging on 
the quarter gallery in the water ; the jib shot away, and 
hanging in the water ; her sails and rigging entirely cut to 
pieces ; her masts and yards all wounded, and her hull also 
very much galled. I lost only Lieut. Wallingsford and one 
seaman, John Dougall, killed, and six wounded ; among 
whom are the gunner, Mr. Falls, and Mr. Powers, a midship- 
man, who lost his arm. One of the wounded, Nathaniel 
Wills, is since dead : the rest will recover. The loss of the 
enemy in killed and wounded, was far greater. All the pri- 
soners allow, that they came out with a number not less than 
a hundred and sixty men : and many of them affirm that 
they amounted to an hundred and ninety. The medium 
may, perhaps, be the most exact account ; and by that it 
will appear that they lost in killed and wounded, forty two 
men. The captain and lieutenant were among the wounded. 
The former, having received a musket ball in the head the 
minute before they called for quarters ; lived, and was sensi- 
ble some time after my people boarded the prize. The 
lieutenant survived two days. They were buried with the 
honors due to their rank, and with the respect due to their 
memory. 

The night and almost the whole day after the action being 
moderate, greatly facilitated the refitting of both ships. A 
large brigantine was so near the Drake in the afternoon, that 
I was obliged to bring her too. She belonged to Whiteha- 
ven, and was bound for Norway. 

I had thought of returning by the south channel ; but the 
wind shifting, I determined to pass by the north, and round 
the west coast of Ireland. This brought me once more off 
Belfast Lough, on the evening after the engagement. It was 
now time to release the honest fishermen, whom I took up 
here on the 21st. And as the poor fellows had lost their 
boat, she having sunk in the late stormy weather, I was happy 
in having it in my power to give them the necessary sum to 
purchase every thing new which they had lost. I gave them 
also a good boat to transport themselves ashore ; and sent with 
them two infirm men, on whom I bestowed the last guinea in my 
possession, to defray their travelling expenses to their proper 



4'J 

home in Dublin. They took with them cue of the Drake's 
sails, which would sufficiently explain what had happened 
to the volunteers. The grateful fishermen were in raptures ; 
and expressed their joy in three huzzas as they passed the 
Ranger's quarter. 

I again met with contrary winds in the mouth of the North 
Channel, but nothing remarkable happened, till on the morn- 
ing of the 5th, current, Ushant then bearing S. E. by S., 
distance fifteen leagues, when seeing a sail to leeward steer- 
ing for the Channel, the wind being favorable for Brest, and 
the distance trifling, I resolved to give chase, having the 
Drake in tow. I informed them of my intentions, and or- 
dered them to cast oflf. They cut the hawser. The Ran- 
fer in the chase went lasking between N. N. E. and N. N. 
V. It lasted an hour and ten minutes, when the chase was 
hailed and proved a Swede. I immediately hauled by the 
wind to the southward. 

After cutting the hawser, the Drake went from the wind 
for some time, then hauled close by the wind, steering from 
S. S. E. to S. S. W. as the wind permitted, so that when 
the Ranger spoke the chase the Drake was scarcely percep- 
tible. In the course of the day many large ships appeared, 
steering into the Channel, but the extraordinary evolutions 
of the Drake made it impossible for me to avail myself of 
these favorable circumstances. Towards noon it became 
very squally, the wind backed from the S. W. to the W^ 
The Ranger had come up with the Drake, and was nearly 
abreast of her, though considerably to the leeward, when 
the wind shifted. The Drake was, however, kept by the 
wind, though, as I afterward understood, they knew the 
Ranger, and saw the signal which she had hoisted. After 
various evolutions and signals in the night, I gave chase to 
a sail which appeared bearing S. S. W. the next morning a I; 
a great distance. The chase discovered no intention tO' 
speak with the Ranger ; she was, however, at length brought 
to, and proved to be the Drake. I immediately put Lieut. 
Simpson under suspension and arrest, for disobedience of 
my orders, dated the 26th ult., a copy whereof is here en- 
closed. On the 8th, both ships anchored safe in this Road, 
the Ranger having been absent only twenty-eight days. — - 
Could I suppose that my letters of the 9th and 16th current, 
(the first advising you of my arrival, and giving reference 
to the events of mv expedition ; the last advising vou of mv 



50 

draft in favor of Monsieur Bersolle, for 24,000 livres, and 
assigning reasons for that demand,) had not made due ap- 
pearance, I would hereafter, as I do now, enclose copies. 
Three posts have already arrived here from Paris, since 
Compte d'Orvilliers showed me the answer which he recei- 
ved from the minister, to the letter which enclosed mine to 
you. Yet you remain silent. M. Bersolle has this moment 
informed me of the fate of my bills ; the more extraordi- 
nary, as I have not yet made use of your letter of credit of 
the 10th of January last, whereby 1 then seemed entitled to 
call for half the amount of my last draft, and I did not ex- 
pect to be thought extravagant, when, on the 1 6th current, 
I doubled that demand. Could this indignity be kept secret 
I should disregard it ; and, though it is already public in 
Brest, and in the fleet, as it affects only my private credit, 
I will not complain. I cannot, however, be silent when I 
find the public credit involved in the same disgrace. I con- 
ceive this might have been prevented. To make me com- 
pletely wretched, Monsieur Bersolle has told me that he 
now stops his hand, not only of the necessary articles to refit 
the ship, but also of the daily provisions. I know not where 
to find to-morrow's dinner for the great number of mouths 
that depend on me for food. Are then the continental ships 
of war to depend on the sale of their prizes for a daily din^ 
ner for their men ? " Publish it not in Gath !" 

My officers, as well as men, want clothes, and the prizes 
are precluded from being sold before farther orders arrive 
from the minister. I will ask you, gentlemen, if I have de- 
served all this ? Whoever calls himself an American ought 
to be protected here. I am unwilling to think that you 
have intentionally involved me in this sad dilemma, at a time 
when I ought to expect some enjoyment. Therefore I have, 
as formerly, the honor to be, with due esteem and respect, 
gentlemen, yours, &;c. 

The copy of the letter to Lady Selkirk, to which Capt, 
Jones alludes, is in the words following. It is couched in 
terms as politic as gallant : 

Ranger, Brest, May 8th, 1778. 
The Right Hon. the Countess of Selkirk. 

Madam, 
It cannot be too much lamented, that, in the profession 
oi" arms, the officer of fine feeling and of real sensibility. 



61 

should be under the necessity of winking at any action of 
persons under his command which his heart cannot approve ; 
but the reflection is doubly severe, when he finds himself 
obliged, in appearance, to countenance such actions by his 
authority. 

This hard case was mine, when, on the 23d of April last^ 
I landed on St. Mary's Isle. Knowing Lord Selkirk's inte- 
rest with his king, and esteeming, as 1 do, his private cha- 
racter, I wished to make him the happy instrument of alle- 
viating the horrors of hopeless captivity, when the brave 
are overpowered and made prisoners of war. 

It was, perhaps, fortunate for you, Madam, that he was 
from home ; for it was my intention to have taken him on 
board the Ranger, and to have detained him until, through 
his means, a general and fair exchange of prisoners, as well 
in Europe as in America, had been effected. 

When I was informed, by some men whom I met at land- 
ing, that his lordship was absent, I walked back to my boat, 
determined to leave the island. By the way, however, some 
officers, who were with me, could not forbear expressing 
their discontent ; observing that, in America, no delicacy 
was shown by the English, who took away all sorts of move- 
able property — setting fire, not only to towns and to the 
houses of the rich, without distinction, but not even sparing 
the wretched hamlets and milch-cows of the poor and help- 
less, at the approach of an inclement winter. That party 
had been with me, the same morning, at Whitehaven ; some 
complaisance, therefore, was their due. I had but a mo- 
ment to think how I might gratify them, and at the same 
time do your ladyship the least injury. I charged the two 
oflicers to permit none of the seamen to enter the house, or 
to hurt any thing about it — to treat you, Madam, with the 
utmost respect — to accept of the plate which was offered — 
and to come away without making a search, or demanding 
any thing else. 

I am induced to believe that I was punctually obeyed : 
since I am informed, that the plate which they brought awav 
is far short of the quantity expressed in the inventory which 
accompanied it. I have gratified my men ; and when the 
plate is sold, I shall become the purchaser, and will gratify 
my own feelings by restoring it to you, by such conveyance 
as you shall please to direct. 



Had the carl been on board the Ranger the follownig 
evening, he would have seen the awful pomp and dreadful 
carnage of a sea engagement ; both affording ample subject 
for the pencil, as well as melancholy reflection to the con- 
templative mind. Humanity starts back from such scenes 
of horror, and cannot sufficiently execrate the vile promo- 
ters of this detestable war. 

" For they, 'twas they unsheath'd the ruthless blade, 
" And Heaven shall ask the havoc it has made." 

The British ship of war Drake, mounting twenty guns, 
with more than her full complement of officers and men, 
*****. The ships met, and the advantage was disputed 
with great fortitude on each side, for an hour and four min- 
utes, when the gallant commander of the Drake fell, and 
victory declared in favor of the Ranger. The amiable lieu- 
tenant lay mortally wounded, besides near forty of the infe- 
rior officers and crew killed and wounded. A melancholy 
demonstration of the uncertainty of human prospects, and 
of the sad reverse of fortune which an hour can produce. 
I buried them in a spacious grave, with the honors dne to 
the memory of the brave. 

Though I have drawn my sword in the present generous 
struggle for the rights of men, yet I am not in arms as an 
American, nor am I in pursuit of riches. My fortune is libe- 
ral enough, having no wife nor family, and having lived long 
enough to know that riches cannot ensure happiness. I pro- 
fess myself a citizen of the world, totally unfettered by the 
little, mean distinctions of climate or of country, which di- 
minish the benevolence of the heart and set bounds to phi- 
lanthropy. Before this war was begun, I had, at an early 
time of life, withdrawn from sea service, in favor of " calm 
contemplation and poetic ease." I have sacrificed not only 
my favorite scheme of life, but the softer affections of the 
heart, and my prospects of domestic happiness, and I am 
ready to sacrifice my life also, with cheerfulness, if that for- 
feiture could restore peace and good will among mankind. 

As the feelings of your gentle bosom cannot but be con- 
genial with mine, let me entreat you, Madam, to use your 
persuasive art, with your husband's, to endeavor to stop this 
cruel and destructive war, in which Britain never can suc- 
ceed. Heaven can never countenance the barbarous and 
immanly practice of the Britons in America, which savages 



S3 

would blush at, and which, if not discontinued, will soon be 
retaliated on Britain by a justly enraged people. Should 
you fail in this, (for 1 am persuaded that you will attempt 
it — and who can resist the power of such an advocate ?) your 
endeavors to effect a general exchange of prisoners, will be 
an act of humanity which will afford you golden feelings on 
a death-bed. 

I hope this cruel contest will soon be closed ; but should 
it continue, I wage no war with the fair. 1 acknowledge 
their force, and bend before it with submission. Let not, 
therefore, the amiable Countess of Selkirk regard me as an 
enemy. I am ambitious of her esteem and friendship, and 
would do any thing, consistent with my duty, to merit it. 

The honor of a line from your hand, in answer to this, 
will lay me under a singular obligation ; and if I can render 
you any acceptable service in France or elsewhere, I hope 
you see into my character so far as to command me without 
the least grain of reserve. 

I wish to know, exactly, the behaviour of my people ; as 
I determine to punish them, if they have exceeded their 
liberty. 

I am, Madam, with sentiments of the highest respect, 
Your Ladyship's most obedient, humble servant, 

Paul Jones. 

On the subject of Capt. Jones' offer to restore the plate 
taken from the residence of Lord Selkirk, there is a letter 
from Dr. Franklin, evincing rather a proud disposition in the 
Scotch peer, and indicative of his disinclination to accept a 
favor of the kind from Jones. It follows : — 

Passy, Feb, 24th, 1779. 
Dear Captaik, 
Mr. Alexander called here this morning to deliver a little 
message to be communicated to you, from Lord Selkirk. 
The purport was, that his lordship had written an answer 
to your letter : which answer, after having been detained 
many months in the post-office, had been sent back to him. 
That, as to the proposition of returning the plate, if it was 
made by order of Congress, or any public body, he would 
accept of it, and endeavor to make suitable returns for the 
favor ; but if by a private person's generosity, the captain's 
for instance, he could by no means receive it. You will 



liow judge whether it is worth while to give yourself any 
/arther trouble about that matter. 

I am, with great regard, dear Sir, 

Your most obedient humble servant, 

B. Franklin. 

On the 1st of March, 1780, Jones wrote again to Lady 
Selkirk, as follows : — 

V Orient, March 1st, 1780. 
The Right Hon. the Countess of Selkirk, 
&c. &c. St. Mary's Isle, Scotland. 
Madam, 

It is now ten or eleven months since his Excellency Ben- 
jamin Franklin, Esq. Minister Plenipotentiary for the Uni- 
ted States of America at the Court of France, communica- 
ted to me a message from the earl, your husband, in a letter 
to his friend, Mr. Alexander, at Paris, in substance as fol- 
lows : — That he, the Earl of Selkirk, had written an answer 
to the letter that I had the honor to write to your ladyship 
in May, 1778, from Brest, respecting your plate; which 
answer, after being detained for several months at London, 
in the general post-office, had been returned to Scotland. 
Me, therefore, wished Mr. Alexander to inform the concern- 
ed, that if the plate was to be restored by Congress, or by 
any public body, it would be accepted, &c. ; but if, through 
the generosity of an individual, his delicacy would scruple 
(o receive it, &;c. 

The true reason why I have not written to you since I 
received the above information, has been, because the plate 
is but now come into my possession from the public agents ; 
and I have, besides, been, for the greatest part of the time, 
absent from this kingdom. 

I have now the satisfaction to inform you, that Congress 
has relinquished their real or supposed interest in the plate, 
and, for my own part, I scorn to add to my fortune by such 
an acquisition. As for the part claimed by the few men 
who landed with me on St. Mary's Isle, it is of little conse- 
quence, and they are already satisfied. Thu«s you see. Ma- 
dam, that the earl's objection is removed. 

The plate is lodged here, in the hands of Messrs. Gour- 
lade & Moylan, who hold it at your disposal, and will for- 
ward it agreeable to your orders, by land or by water to 
Holland, Ostend, or any other port you think proper. 



I shall be happy, by my conduct through lite, to merit the 
good opinion of the Earl and Countess of Selkirk ; for I am, 
with great esteem and profound respect, Madam, your lady- 
ship's most obedient and most humble servant. 

Paul Jones. 

Paris, Sept. 24thj 1784. 

To Capt* Paul Jones, Paris. 
Sir, 

M. the Count de Vergennes has delivered to me the let- 
ter which you had written to him, to ask his permission to 
transport by land from L'Orient to Calais, the plate of Lady 
Selkirk, which you had permitted to be taken by your peo- 
ple during the last war, and which you afterward purchased 
to return to her ladyship. 

That action, Sir, is worthy of the reputation which you 
acquired by your conduct, and proves that true valor per- 
fectly agrees with humanity and generosity. 

It gives me pleasure to concur in the execution of this 
honorable proceeding. 

I have, therefore, given orders to the Farmer's General 
to permit the transportation of the plate from L'Orient to 
Calais, free of duty, and you may write to your correspond- 
ent at L'Orient to deliver it to the director of the posts, who 
will take upon himself the care of having it transported to 
Calais, and to fulfil all the necessary formalities. 
I have the honor to be, &c. 

De Calonne. 

The Right Hon. the Count- ) d \r mi. i-ro, 

?c i Fans, Nov, Sth, 1784. 

ess OI OELKIRK. 5 

Madam, 

Since the moment when I found myself under the neces- 
sity to permit my men to demand and carry off your family 
plate, it has been my constant intention to restore it to you, 
and 1 wrote to you to that effect from Brest, the moment I 
had arrived there from my expedition in the Irish Sea. 

By the letter which I had the honor to write to Lord Sel- 
kirk, the 12th of February last, which will accompany this, 
I have explained the difficulties that prevented the plate 
from being restored until that time. I had expectation, all 
the last summer, that opportunities would have offered to 



o6 

send it by sea from L'Orient to London ; but being disap- 
pointed, I applied to government for leave to transport it 
through the kingdom by land, and the Duke of Dorset has 
been so obliging as to write to the custom-house at Dover, 
requesting them to let it pass to London, without being open- 
ed. It is now arrived here, and will be forwarded immedi- 
ately to your sister in London, under the lead that has been 
affixed to the case that contains it, by the Farmer's General 
at L'Orient, and the seal of the Duke of Dorset, that has 
been affixed to it here. The charges to London are paid, 
and I have directed it to be dehvered at the house of your 
sister. 

I could have wished to have ended this delicate business 
by delivering the plate to you at St. Mary's Isle, in Scot- 
land ; but I conform to the arrangement made between Lord 
Selkirk and Mr. Alexander, because I have no person in 
London whom I can charge with the transportation of the 
plate from thence. Enclosed is the inventory that I have 
just received from Mr. Nesbitt, from L'Orient, which I pre- 
sume you will find to correspond with the one he sent last 
year to Lord Dare, and with the articles which you put into 
the hands of my men. 

I am, Madam, with sentiments of the highest respect. 
Your Ladyship's most obedient 

And most humble servant, 

Paul Jones. 

From the Count D'Estaing, Commander of the Fleet of His 
Most Christian Majesty/, 

Paris, Dec. \Stkj 1785. 
To Mr. Paul Jones, Commodore in ) 
the Navy of the United States. 3 
Sir, 
It is impossible not to take advantage of your kindness. 
Never lend me your Journal again, for I must warn you that 
I shall read it over and over, and always with renewed plea- 
sure. It is one of those things which one absolutely wants 
to know by heart. It is not only a lesson of naval and mili- 
tary heroism, but, by your conduct to Lord and Lady Sel- 
kirk, also one of generosity. 

1 am very far from regretting the homage which I have 
been obliged to render to the engagement between the Bon 



* 



Homme Richard and the Serapis ; and although I did uqi: 
suppose, while writing it,* that it might be of any other use 
than that of procuring an admission into the Society of the 
Cincinnati, 1 can but be flattered that you have thought it 
proper to insert it among the pieces which are annexed to 
your Journal. 

I have the honor to be, 

With the most perfect attachment, 

Your most obedient servant, 

ESTAING. 

London, August 4th, 1789, 

Monsieur le Chevalier Paul Jones, a Paris. 
Sir, 

I received the letter you wrote to me at the time you 
sent off my plate, in order for restoring it. Had I known 
where to direct a letter to you, at the time it arrived in Scot- 
land, I would then have wrote to you ; but not knowing it, 
nor finding that any of my acfjuaintance at Edinburg knew 
jt, I was obliged to delay writing till I came here ; when, by 
means of a gentleman connected with America, I was told 
M. le Grand was your banker at Paris, and would take 
proper care of a letter for you ; therefore, I enclose this 
to him. 

Notwithstanding all the precautions you took for the easy 
and uninterrupted conveyance of the plate, yet it met with 
considerable delays : first at Calais, next at Dover, then at 
London ; however, it at last arrived at Dumfries, and I dare 
say quite safe, though as yet I have not seen it, being then 
at Edinburg. 

I intended to have put an article in the newspapers about 
your having returned it ; but before I was informed of its 
being arrived some of your friends, I suppose, had put it in 
the Dumfries newspaper, whence it was immediately copied 
into the Edinburg papers, and thence into the London ones. 
Since that time, I have mentioned it to many people of fa- 
shion ; and, on all occasions, Sir, both now and formerly, I 
have done you the justice to tell, that you made an offer of 
returning the plate very soon after your return to Brest; and, 
although you yourself was not at my house, but remained at 
the shore with your boat, that yet you had your officers and 

* In his recommendation of Capt. Edwanl Stgick for admission into the 
Society of Cincinnati. 

H 



58 

men in such extraordinary good discipline, that your having 
given them the strictest orders^to behave well, to do no in- 
jury of any kind, to make no search, but only to bring 
off what plate was given them ; that in reality they did 
exactly as ordered, and that not one man offered to stir from 
his post on the outside of the house, nor entered the doors, 
nor said an uncivil word ; that the two officers staid not a 
quarter of an hour in the parlour and butler's pantry, while 
the butler got the plate together, behaved politely, and asked 
for nothing but the plate, and instantly marched their men off 
in regular order, and that both officers and men behaved in 
all respects so well, that it would have done credit to the best 
disciplined troops whatever. 

Some of the English newspapers, at that time, having put 
in confused accounts of your expedition to Whitehaven and 
Scotland, I ordered a proper one of what happened in Scot- 
land to be put in the London newspapers, by a gentleman 
who was then at my house, by which the good conduct and 
civil behaviour of your officers and men was done justice to, 
and attributed to your order, and the good discipUne you 
maintained over your people. 

I am. Sir, your most humble servant, 

Selkirk. 

So highly did Dr. Franklin, and John Adams, the Ameri- 
can commissioners to the Court of France appreciate the 
descent upon Whjtehaven, that they proposed to recommend 
the persons engaged in it to the Congress, and wrote a letter 
to Captain Jones to that effect, of which the subjoined is an 
extract : 

Extract of a letter from their excellencies, Benjamin Frank- 
lin, and John Adams, to Captain John Paul Jones, dated 
Passy, August \Oth, 1778. 

" We shall recommend the men who landed with you at 
Whitehaven, to the favor of Congress, because we think 
they merited it ; but lest our recommendation should mis- 
carry, we wish you to recommend them, and enclose in 
your letter an extract of this paragraph of ours. As they 
have done themselves so much honor in this expedition, 
perhaps Congress would approve of the deduction of the 
advance at the time of entry, which they all received from 
me, being made from their wages in America, that the men 
may have their prize money here." 



59 

Captain Jones, indeed, according to a letter which he ad- 
dressed to the Marine Committee of Congress, was the 
lirst to suggest to the American commissioners the propriety 
of rewarding the brave men who had been concerned in that 
enterprise. Less anxious about his own fortune than that 
of those who served with him, and merited an extraordinary 
recompense; he was the invariable friend of the praise- 
worthy seamen, whose rights he was ever ready to support, 
and whose interests he never failed to advance, when a fa- 
vorable opportunity offered itself for his interposition : 

Brest, August ISth, 1778. 

To the Honorable the Marine Committee. 
Gentlemen, 
It is evident from the above extract, that the letter from 
which it is taken, was written in compliance with my par- 
ticular request to the Commissioners. It was my intention 
from the beginning, to beseech you also to recommend the 
men who landed with me at Whitehaven, to the bounty of 
Congress. That service being unprecedented in latter wars, 
accounts for the extreme difficulty which I found prevailing 
with the handful of men, who, at last, reluctantly undertook 
it. — The men, however, have in my judgment well merite,d 
a reward, and the bestowing it liberally on so few, would, I 
hope, have a happy effect in prompting others to attempt 
still greater enterprises, with such spirit and unanimity as 
will generally ensure success, and lead to the most glorious 
victory. 

For me, if I have done my duty, the continued approba- 
tion of Congress, and the Marine Committee, will make me 
rich indeed, and far more than reward me for a life of ser- 
vice devoted from principles of philanthropy, to support the 
dignity of human nature. 

The court of France having made application without 
my knowledge, to the commissioners, that I should remain 
for a little time in Europe, and they having consented. Con- 
gress will, I flatter myself, approve of my having also con- 
sented to oblige a court, who has asked such a trifle, as a 
favor, and to whom America owes such superior obligations. 
I will, however, command only under freedom's flag, which I 
have endeavoured to support since it was first displayed. I 
will be always ready to return to America, and I hope with 



GO 

some improvement, and increase of knowledge in Marine 
affairs, 

I am, with unfeigned sentiments of esteem, 
and grateful respect, 

Gentlemen, yours, &lc. 

The Ranger returned from her cruize, and came to anchor 
in the road of Brest, on the 9th of May 1 778. Unhappy dif- 
ferences still prevailed between Capt. Jones and his first 
lieutenant, whom he accused of disobed.ence of orders, and 
of incessant efforts to introduce insubordination among the 
seamen. Prior to Capt. Jones's taking command of the 
Ranger, at Portsmouth, New-Hampshire, his first lieute- 
nant, whose name was Simpson, had instilled into the minds 
of the crew, that Jones was not the real commander of the 
vessel ; that he was, indeed, to have the control during the 
passage ; but that, on his arrival in France, the command 
was to devolve on the lieutenant. Disquietudes arose 
among the men ; Jones and Simpson had personal quarrels ; 
and to such extremities were these unhappy differences 
carried, that the expedition against Whitehaven was near 
miscarrying, and the Drake escaping the capture which 
awaited her. The enterprises of Capt. Jones being out of 
the ordinary routine of naval service, the seamen did not al- 
always relish them 5 and, carrying their notions of civil gov- 
ernment on board of a man-of-war, thought they had a just 
claim to be consulted on any occasion when extraordinary 
duty was to be performed. Jones, on the contrary, was a 
strict disciplinarian, required every thing to be done in 
time and place, and enforced rigid obedience to the orders 
of superiors. It is very probable also, that Lieut. Simp- 
son, understanding that Jones was repairii g to France to 
take the command of a vessel of a large class, did really be- 
lieve that he was there to leave the Ranger under the direc- 
tion of the lieutenant, who might have supposed that he 
was to re-conduct her to America. Whatever the impres- 
sions of Simpson were, and whatever the deportment of 
Jones, it is certain that great jealousy and animosity 
prevailed between them, which resulted in the arrest of 
the former whilst navigating the Drake to a port in 
France. Capt. Jones accused Lieut. Simpson of disre- 
garding his instructions and signals, and by the following 
written order suspended him from command : — 



61 



By John Paul Jones Esq.^ Captain in the American 
Kavy, ^'C. 
Sir, 
You are hereby appointed Commander of our prize, the 
Enghsh ship of war, the Drake of 20 guns. You are to put 
Lieut. Simpson under arrest for disobedience of orders. 
You are to keep company with me, and to pay punctual 
attention to the signals delivered herewith for your govern- 
ment. You are to superintend the navigation and defence of 
the ship under your command, and to support me as much 
as possible should we fall in with, and engage, Sny of the 
enemy's ships. 

The honor of our flag is much concerned in the preser- 
vation of this prize, therefore, keep close by me, and she 
shall not be given tamely up. 

You will take your station on the Ranger's starboard 
quarter, at, or about the distance of a cable length. 
Should bad weather, or any accident, separate you from 
the Ranger, you are to make the best of your way to 
France, and I recommend the port of Brest to your pre- 
ference. You will secure all the books, charts, instruments, 
and effects belonging to the deceased captain and officers ; 
&c. for which, this shall be your order. 

Given on board the American Continental ship of War 
the Ranger, off Ushant, the 7th day of May, 1778. 

John Paul Jones. 
To Lieut. Elijah Hall of the ) 

American Navy, commanding > 

the prize ship the Drake. ) 

I certify the above to be a true copy of the original in 
my possession. Elijah Hall. 

Portsmouth, September Zth, 1824. 

When Capt. Jones on his arrival at Brest with his prize, 
found it convenient to put the prisoners of war on board 
the Drake, he deemed it necessary to remove Lieut. Simp- 
son to a ship lying in the port, called the Admiral, in which 
he had a good state-room, and liberty to walk the deck. 
He was, however, quite restless, and sent a message to the 
officers and crew of the Ranger, that he had been put in 
prison. This excited a considerable sensation, and such 
was Simpson's behaviour subsequently, that Jones, upon a 



representation of the necessity of it, from Count D'Orvif- 
liers, the French Admiral, actually placed the lieutenant 
in close confinement. Capt. Jones, nevertheless, cherished 
no enmity to Lieutenant Simpson. On the contrary, he 
afterward assented to his liberation ; and, when a question 
arose as to who should command the Ranger on her return 
to America, and it was proposed to give it to another, it 
was Jones who interfered in his behalf, and urged the pro- 
priety of placing Lieut. Simpson in command, for the pur- 
pose of navigating her back to Portsmouth. He according- 
ly took charge of that vessel on the 29th of July 1778, and ar- 
rived at Portsmouth on the 16th of October following, hav- 
ing made several prizes on the passage home. 

The apprehensions which Jones infused along the coasts 
of Great Britain and Ireland, by the extraordinary boldness 
of his enterprises against Whitehaven and St. Mary's Isle, 
and the capture of the Drake, is almost inconceivable. 
Look-out vessels were constantly kept in motion, the pub- 
lic attention was immediately turned to the construction of 
fortifications, troops were called out, and the population on 
the sea-board was kept in the most fearful state of alarm. 
The following paragraphs, copied from the Cumberland 
packet, of the 28th April, 1778, give but a faint idea of the 
frightful impressions that Capt. Jones had made upon the 
minds of the British and Irish public. 

LONDON. 
From the Cumberland Packet of April 28fA, 1778. 

" Whitehaven, April ^Sth. — Last Thursday, in conse- 
quence of the alarm occasioned by the Ranger privateer, 
Lieut. HoUingsworth, at the request of the merchants, took 
the command of the Hussar, James Gurley, master, (a crui- 
zer under the inspection of Charles Lutwidge Esq.) with an 
intent to dodge the privateer. She sailed about 10 o'clock 
in the morning, two hours after which she got sight of the 
privateer, which was then steering to the north-westward, 
under an easy sail, the wind about N. N. E. and moderate 
weather. They chased her till they came within two or 
three miles, spoke a boat and sent her express to Kirkcud- 
bright, to alarm the coast. About 4 o'clock the ship 
brought to, being then about a league from Borough-Head. 
vShe several times altered her position, going off and hauling 



63 

her wind occasionally, which the Hussar observing, acted in 
the same manner, being then two or three miles from her, 
until about seven, when the privateer made all the sail she 
could to the W. S. W. At half past nine the cruizer lost 
sight of her, then tacked and stood for Whitehaven, not 
knowing, (it being night) but she might have stood for this 
place, in order to do more damage. 

At day light, perceiving she had not come here, they 
stood towards Kirkcudbright, hoisted out the boat, and sent 
her on shore to inquire if any account had been received of 
her there. The boat returned with intelligence of the 
pirates having landed about eleven in the forenoon, on St. 
Mary's Isle, and plundered the house of Lord Selkirk, of 
plate, &:c. to the amount of 650/. 

Friday night the Hussar returned, after looking into 
Wigton Bay,. fully satisfied that the privateer had steered up 
the South Channel, and consequently quitted these coasts. 

At the request of the Committee, the Hussar, Capt. Gurly, 
sailed from hence on Sunday night for Belfast, to inquire 
into the report of the taking of his Majesty's sloop the 
Drake, after which, and getting what intelligence he can of 
the Ranger privateer, (or any other enemy in the channel) 
he is to return and report the same. And at the request of 
the Committee, Capt. Perry, and Capt. Sharpe are also on 
board the Hussar in this necessary expedition. 

David Freeman, who may in some respects be consider- 
ed as the saviour of this town, says, " that the captain oi 
the Ranger declared that the destruction of Whitehaven 
was his first object ; seizing the person of Lord Selkirk was 
the next thing he wished, after which he would sail for 
Brest, and on his passage sink, burn and destroy whatever 
fell in his way belonging to Great Britain. 

Other alarming intelligence arrived here on Sunday 
morning, brought by the Mary Ann, Capt. Robinson, from 
Belfast. He arrived about nine, and reported on oath, that 
on Saturday afternoon, he spoke a boat in the Lough of 
Belfast, belonging to the Draper brig of that place, who 
informed him that the Drake sloop of war was taken on 
Friday afternoon, and carried away to the northward. — 
Soon after he spoke four fishing boats, who all gave the 
same disagreeable' information, having seen the engagement 
between her and three privateers, two rigged as ships, and 



04 

the other a brig. The engagement lasted near two hours. 
Capt. Robinson further says, that soon after he got clear of 
the Lough, he saw the above ships to the northward of him, 
their courses hauled up, and the top-sails on the cap ; but at 
too great a distance for him to ascertain their force. 

A vessel from tlip Isle of Man (arrived yesterday) brings 
an account of the Drake having two companies of soldiers 
on board ; that she was taken by a privateer (supposed to 
be the Ranger :) she made a stout resistance, and in the en- 
gagement lost her bowsprit and fore-top-mast. 

The account of the Drake being taken was also brought 
express from the shore to Belfast, at twelve o'clock on 
Friday night. The Drake sailed from Belfast on Friday 
morning full of men. 

Four companies of the militia are now here. 

The guns at the forts are all cleaned and put into order; 
some are also planted on the north wall, and the present 
measures, it is hoped, will be persevered in till the fortifica- 
tions are thoroughly completed. A committee of gentlemen 
is appointed, and a subscription opened, for defraying what- 
ever expenses may be incurred in the defence of the town. 

Sunday last, a company of gentlemen volunteers were 
formed for the protection of the town, exclusive of the ten 
companies of seamen, &;c. 

The Olive-Branch which arrived her on Sunday last, 
brings an account of a large man-of-war being in the chan- 
nel, and standing this way. 

Saturday last, about twelve at night, a boat full of men 
, attempted to land at Workington. Same time a cutter 
stood in between the perches : but being hailed by the peo- 
ple on guard, who threatened to fire on them, they sheer- 
ed off." 

The following anecdote pertinent to the occasion, and 
illustrating the influence of the terrors inspired by the visit 
of Jones to the coast of Cumberland, is copied from the 
work of Mr. Henderson, who, having explored the whole of 
Scotland, England, and Wales, was perfectly acquainted 
with that part of the country, which was the scene of Capt. 
Jones's exploits in 1778. On a reference to Jones's account 
of his cruize in the Ranger, in a preceding page, it will be 
seen that the wind did change at the time of the clergyman's 
extraordinary prayer to the Divinity, which must have con- 



lirined his parishioners in the belief that their parson was a 
particular favorite of heaven. 

" About the time that Jones visited Whitehaven, he went 
round to the Firth of Forth, and made his appearance off 
the harbour of Kirkaldy, a noted small town on the borders 
of Fifeshire (called by the Scotch ' Lang loun o' Kirkaldy ^^ 
owing to its length.) No other enemy, however formidable, 
could have created in the minds of the inhabitants, such 
consternation and alarm as that which then approached, 
Paul Jones was the dread of all, old and young, (and pam- 
phlets of his depredations were as common in every house as 
almanacs.) He was looked upon as a sea-monster, that 
swallowed up all that came in his power. The people all 
flocked to the shore to watch his movements, expecting the 
worst consequences. There was an old Presbyterian minis- 
ter in the place, a very p^ous and good old man, but of a 
most singular and eccentric turn, especially in addressing 
the Deity, to whom he would speak with as much familia- 
rity as he would to an old farmer, and seemingly without re- 
spect, as will appear from the following. He was soon seen 
making his way through the people with an old black oak 
arm-chair, which he lugged down to low water mark, (the 
tide flowing) and sat down in it. Almost out of breath, and 
rather in a passion, he then began to address the Deity, in 
the following singular way : — 

Now deed Lord, dinna ye think its a shame for ye to send 
this vile pireet to rub our folk o' Kirkaldy ^ for ye ken 
they're a' puir enough already, and hae naething to spaire. 
They are a' gaily guid, and it wad be apeety to serve them 
in sic in a wa. The wa the wun blazvs, he'll be here in a 
jiffi^e, and zuha kens what he may do. He's naiie too guid 
for ony thing. Meickle^s the mischief he has du7ie already. 
Ony pecket gear they hae gathered thegither he will gang 
wi'' the heal oPt ; may burn their hooses, iak their vary claes, 
and tirl them to the sark ; and waes me ! zvha kens but the 
bluidy villain might tak their lives. The puir weemen ere 
maist freightened out o' their wuts^ and the bairns skirling 
after them. I canna'^ thoHt ! I canna'' thoHt! 1 ^c been 
lang B.faithfu^ servant to ye^ Laird ; but gin ye d^ma turn 
the wun about, and blaw the scoundrel out of our gate, I'll 
na stur a Jit, but will juist sit here, until the tide come? and 
drduns me. Sae tak yere wull oH,'^ 

T 



When Captafin Jones left the United States for France he 
understood that he was destined eventually to take com- 
mand of a frigate of the first class, which had been built 
for the United States in Holland. In this he was disappoint- 
ed ; and was for some time kept in a situation of inactivity 
and suspense, ill suited to his genius and disposition. He 
had been sent for to Paris, and had suggested a number of 
enterprises to the French ministry; but they were slow in 
their determinations, and Jones, for a time, considered him- 
self neglected, and, in some degree, badly treated. His 
drafts on the American Commissioners, also, had been pro- 
tested,* and he felt chagrined at the apparent indifference 
shown to his claims to employment, which was aggravated 
by an opinion which he entertained that he was regarded at 
Brest as an officer in disgrace. But Captain Jones was not 
a man to yield to adverse circumstances. He combated 
every difficulty, repeated and reiterated his applications to 
the minister of the French marine, wrote to Dr. Franklin, 
remonstrated with Mr. Arthur Lee, addressed himself to in- 
lluential persons about the French court, and actually wrote 
a spirited letter to the King of France, Louis XVL, 
which doubtless had its effect. His feelings and thoughts 
under the various embarrassments which he endured, his 
views and reflections, from the period of his arrival at Brest 
after the capture of the Drake, whilst at Paris, and on his 
return to Brest from that capital until his appointment to the 
command of the Bonhomme Richard, and his return from 
the cruize which ended in the capture of the British frigate 
Serapis, are so well expressed in the subjoined letters and 
documents, that no apology is requisite for their insertion. 
No writer can so well portray the incidents of any trans- 
action as an intelligent individual who is personally con- 
cerned in it, who originates it, and under whose control it 
is consummated. Captain Jones was particularly attentive 
in committing to paper every public event of his life. Was 
remarkably clear in his explanations, and extremely precise 
in communicating his sentiments to those with whom he cor- 
responded : 

* The commissioners explained to Commodore Jones that thoy had nei- 
ther authority nor funds to make the advances of money Avhichhe required. 
They, however, did all in their power, and even exceeded their instructions 
?n assistin^^hiitt. 



4^ 



67 

Ranger, Brest, Marofi 3]st, 1778. 
M. De Sartine, Minister, and Secretary of j 
State for the Marine Department. 
Honored Sir, 

As I have not the honor of being known to you, I hope 
you will pardon the liberty I take of enclosing the copy of a 
letter from the secret committee of Congress to the Ameri- 
can commissioners in Europe. I must, however, acknow- 
ledge that the generous praise which is therein bestowed on 
me by Congress, far exceeds the merit of my services. 

My reason for laying this letter before you is because I 
am destined by Congress to command a frigate of a very 
large construction lately built at Amsterdam, — and as politi- 
cal reasons made it necessary for that frigate to become 
French property, I am now induced to hope that on her ar- 
rival in France, she will again become the property of 
America, and of course be put under my command. 

The within extract of a letter dated 10th Feb. last, to 
the American commissioners, will I hope prove to you the 
real satisfaction with which I have anticipated the happy al- 
liance between France and America. — I am, Sir, convinced 
that the capture of Lord Howe's light ships and frigates in 
America and the destruction of the enemy's fishery at New- 
foundland, which might be easily effected this summer, 
would eflfectually destroy the sinews of their marine, for they 
would afterward be unable to man their fleet : — and as to their 
army in America that must fall of course. 

I should be ungrateful did I forget to acknowledge the po^ 
lite attentions and favors which I have received from Compte 
d'Orvilliers, M. De la Porse, M. la Motte Picquet, and every 
officer in this place. 

The Admiral Count d'Orvilliers has, I doubt not, commu- 
nicated to you a project of mine. I am, Sir, ambitious of 
being employed in active and enterprising services ; — but my 
ship is of too small a force, and does not sail so fast as / 
could wish. If I am successful, I will return to France, 
and hope for your countenance and protection. 

I have addressed you. Sir, with the same freedom which has 
ever marked my correspondence with Congress. — The inter- 
ests of France and America are the same ; and, as I hope to 
see the common enemy humbled, I shall be happy if I can fur- 
nish any hint whereby that event can be efTected, meantime, 
I have the honor to be, 

with profound respect, &c. 



# 



Brest, June 1st, 1778* 
His Excellency, Benjamin Franklin. 
Honored, and Dear Sir, 

Accept my grateful thanks for your much esteemed favor 
of 27th ult. Such a mark of your good opinion, and appro- 
bation really affords me the most heartfelt satisfaction. It 
shall always be my ambition to do my duty as far as my 
judgment and small abilities enable me ; — but you will see 
by the within papers, that my roses are not without thorns ; 
and, perhaps, it will seem romance that I have succeeded, 
which I am sure I should not have done, had I not been my 
own counsellor. 

Nothing would give me more pleasure than to render es- 
sential services to America, in any measure which you may 
find caipedient. Should I be able to lead my present crew, 
it can be done only by the seldom failing bait for sordid 
minds, great viezus of interest, 

, If in bringing about the plan you propose, I may take the 
liberty to assure them of the protection of the French flag, 
in the channel, against enemies of superior force, with the 
free liberty to attack, and take under that sanction, such of 
the enemy's ships of war, or merchantmen as may be met 
with of equal or inferior force, perhaps I may succeed and 
gain them over by that means, nor will it be necessary to tell 
them our real object. 

If I am not at liberty to give them such assurances, and 
their home-sickness should continue, I could wish that such 
officers as may appear dangerouslij ill, might have liberty to 
lay down their commissions and warrants, — and that others 
may be given to men of stronger nerves, who would be too 
proud to think themselves servants by the year. I believe 
many such may be found among American subjects in 
France. 

If it should be consistent to order the Boston frigate here 
from Bourdeaux, perhaps such exchanges might be made, 
as would be for the interest and harmony of the service ; and 
we might perhaps be able to assemble a sufficient number of 
officers to form a court. 

The Due de Chartres has shown me sundry attentions, 
and expressed his inclination to facilitate my obtaining the 
ship built at Amsterdam. 1 believe I could easily obtain 
letters to the same effect, from the principal people here, 
but shall take no step without your approbation. If the 



prisoners should be exchanged in Europe, 1 believe it would 
be possible to man that ship with Americans. I could have 
manned two such with French volunteers since 1 arrived. 

The Ranger is crank, sails slow, and is of a trifling force. 
Most of the enemy's cruizers arc more than a match, yet I 
mean not to complain. — I demand nothing ; and although I 
know that it was the intention of Congress to give me that 
ship, I am now ready to go wherever the service calls me. 

If two or three fast sailing ships could be collected, there 
is a great choice of private enterprises, some of which might 
succeed, and add more to the interest and honor of America, 
than cruizing with twice the force. It appears to me to be 
the province of our infant navy to surprise, and spread 
alarms with fast sailing ships. — When we grow stronger, we 
can meet their fleets, and dispute with them the sovereignty 
of the ocean. These are my private sentiments, and are 
therefore submitted with the utmost diffidence to your supe- 
rior understanding. 

I have the honor to be, <Sz;c. 

Extract of a letter from Com. John Paul Jones to the Ameri- 
can commissioners at the Court of France, dated Brest. 
June 3d, 1778. 

"I hope you do not mean to impute to me a desire to re- 
ceive presents of the public money, or even to touch a dollar 
of it for my own private use; — on the contrary, I need not 
now assert, that I stepped forth at the beginning, from no- 
bler motives. 

My accounts, before I left America, testify that I am more 
than 1500/. in advance for the public service, exclusive 
of any concern with the sloop of war Ranger ; and as for 
wages, 1 have never received any. 

The Rules whereby Congress have been pleased to com- 
r^and me to regulate my conduct in the navy, authorize me 
to issue my warrant to the agent, &c., and I humbly con- 
ceive that it is his province to furnish me with an estimate 
of the amount of expenses. A space of sixteen months is 
now elapsed, since Congress thought of me, and placed under 
my command seven times my present force, leaving me at 
full liberty, how, and where to apply it. — And if I am not 
now capable of supporting the internal government of a sin- 
gle sloop of war, I wish that some person more deserving 
had my place, and I in America to answer for my miscon- 



duct. I have " well considered," and yet shall persist in 
justifying the steps which 1 have taken, and to which you 
allude. 

I am happy in having it in my power to furnish you with 
the enclosed resolution of Congress, respecting the capture 
of the enemy's ships of war, agreeably to your desire, and 
if you are in possession of any resolution of Congress, which 
will authorise me to * * * * send to America, I should be 
obliged to you for a copy of it." 

Passy,June 5th, 1778. 
Plan for expeditions submitted by Com. Jones to the American 

Plenipotentiaries, and to the French minister of Marine, 

As the first proposed will be impeded for some time, in 
the interval a great variety of projects present themselves, 
some of which might prove of great utility to France and 
America by distressing the common enemy at a small 
expense. 

Three very fast sailing frigates, with one or two tenders, 
might enter the Irish channel and burn at Whitehaven from 
two to three hundred ships, besides the town, which contains 
50,000 inhabitants ; this would render it difficult, if not im- 
possible to supply Ireland with coal the ensuing winter. 

The same force would be sufficient to take the bank of 
Ayr in Scotland, and to destroy the town : — or perhaps, the 
whole shipping in the Clyde, with the towns and stores of 
Greenock and Port-Glasgow, provided no alarm was tirst 
given at other places. The fishery at Cambletown is an 
object worthy attention, and in some of the ports of Ireland 
ships may perhaps be found worth from 150,000 to 200,000/. 
sterling each. 

It might, perhaps, be equally expedient to alarm Britain 
on the east side, which might be effected with equal and per- 
haps inferior force, by destroying the coal shipping of New- 
castle (Sic. which would occasion the utmost distress for 
fuel in London: and there are many towns of consequence 
on the east and north coasts of England and Scotland which 
are defenceless, and might be either burnt or laid under con- 
tribution. 

The success of either of these, or the like enterprises, will 
depend on surprising well, and on despatch both in the at- 
tack and in the retreat, therefore it is necessary the ships 
should sail fast, and that their force should be sufficient to 



71 

repel any of the enemy's cruizing frigates, two of which may 
perhaps be met at a time. 

It is scarcely conceivable how great a panic the success 
in any one of these projects, would occasion in England. 
It would convince the world that their coasts are vulnerable, 
and would, consequently, hurt their public credit. 

If alarming the coast of Britain should be thought inex- 
pedient, to intercept the enemy's West-India, or Baltic fleets, 
— or their Hudson Bay ships, — or to destroy their Greenland 
fishery are capital objects, which promise success if well 
adopted, and any one of them might be finished before the 
first can take place." 

P assy, July Mth, 1778. 

M. De Sartine. 
My Lord, 

I should be ungrateful, did I not return my thanks for your 
kind and generous intentions in my favor. My greatest am- 
bition would be to merit your future approbation, by my 
services against the common enemy of France and America. 
Had your first plan taken effect, the most pleasing prospect 
of success would have been before me. But that now seems 
a distant object. 

I have no doubt but that many projects, which would pro- 
mise success, might be formed from the hints I had the ho- 
nor of sending, lately, for your inspection. Had I been en- 
trusted with the chief command, I would have been respon- 
sible for the consequences. 

I am bound, in honor, to communicate faithfully to Con- 
gress the generous offer which the king now makes, of lend- 
ing the Epervier in the mean time, to be employed under 
my command, and under the flag of the United States of 
America. I would thankfully have accepted this offer, the 
moment it was communicated to me, had no difliculties oc- 
curred on account of the situation of the American funds. 
I have now under my command a ship bound to America. 
On my arrival there, from the former confidence of Con- 
gress, I have reason to expect an immediate removal into 
one of their best ships. I have reason, also, to expect the 
chief command of the first squadron destined for an expe- 
dition. I have in my possession several similar appoint- 
ments ; and when Congress sees fit to appoint admirals, T 
have assurances that mv name will not be foi-srot , 



7'J 

I'liese are tiattering prospects to a man who has drawn 
his sword only from motives of philanthropy, and in support 
of the dignity of human nature. But as I prefer a soUd, to 
a shining reputation — a useful, to a splendid command — I 
hold myself ready, with the approbation of the American 
commissioners at Paris, to be governed by you in any mea- 
sures that may tend to distress and humble the common 
enemy. 

I have the honor to be, <Src. 

J. P. JONESr 

Brest, August 24iA, 1778. 

His Highness the Prince De Nassau. 
My Prince, 

The honor which you propose to do me, by accompany- 
ing me on the ocean, fills my heart with the warmest senti- 
ments of gratitude. 

When your intentions were communicated to me, I had 
under my command a ship bound in company with two fine 
frigates for America, where there are now two new ships of 
eighty guns each, and eight frigates of forty guns each, nearly 
ready for sea. 

On my arrival there, from the former confidence of Con- 
gress, I had assurance of an immediate removal into one of 
their best ships, and to have been appointed to command 
the first squadron which they thought fit to destine for any 
private expedition. Before I came to Europe, Congress 
honored me with several such appointments, and I had as- 
surance, that when admirals were appointed, my name would 
be remembered. 

These, my Prince, were flattering prospects to a man who 
drew his sword only from principles of philanthropy, and in 
support of the dignity of human nature ; — and these are the 
prospects 1 have voluntarily laid aside, that I may pursue 
glory in your company. 

Suffer me not, therefore, I beseech you, to continue longer 
in this shameful inactivity: such dishonor is worse to me 
than a thousand deaths. I have already lost the golden sea- 
son, the summer, which, in war, is of more value than all 
the rest of the year. I appear here as a person cast off and 
useless ; and when any one asks me what I purpose to do ? 
1 am unable to answer. 



Had this been my first or second disappointment, I sliouhl 
have said nothing concerning it. After various other ob- 
jects had misgiven before I left Passy, which M. de Sar- 
tine had thought of, to keep me employed, until the scheme 
wherein you were concerned could take place, I was ordered 
down here at so short a notice, that I had not time, before 
my departure, to take leave of you ; yet, on my arrival here, 
I found that what had been proposed for me, was bestowed 
on others. I then offered to follow Count D'Orvilliers as a 
volunteer, agreeably to his kind invitation; but M. de la 
Prevalaye will not permit this, it not being mentioned in his 
orders. 

I have, my Prince, been unaccustomed to ask any favors, 
even from Congress, for I am not in pursuit of interest; — 
yet, let me beseech you to represent my situation to the best 
of kings, that I may, with you, be forthwith enabled to pur- 
sue glory, and humble the common enemy of humanity. 
' If the ship that was at first proposed, cannot with cer- 
tainty be got ready for sea next month, you, my Prince, can 
obtain another, with the Epervier and the Alertj tenders. 
There is a fine frigate at L'Orient, built on the same con- 
struction with the ship at first proposed, and mounted with 
eighteen-pounders. This ship has been at India, is known 
to sail fast, and may, perhaps, be obtained, till it is seen 
whether the other can be got out. 

If this ship is refused, there are many other fine frigates 
newly built at St. Maloes, and other places, to which I hear 
of no commanders being appointed. I have the greatest 
dependance on the generous intentions of that great minis- 
ter, M. de Sartine, but I cannot every day intrude on him 
with letters, and, in the multiplicity and importance of his 
affairs, my concerns may escape his memory. 

I wish for the honor of a letter from your own hand ;■— 
though I cannot write in French, yet ] understand letters 
which are written in that language ; and I have with me 
now a lieutenant that speaks it well. 
My Piince, yours, &:c. 

Brest, August 24th, 177S. 
His Excellency Benjamin Franklin. 

Honored and Dear Sir, 
Had I indulged my inclination since my return, I should 
have alreadv troubled you with sundrv letters. I must not. 

K 



however, abuse the indulgent liberty which you gave me at 
parting, and I have, therefore, been more troublesome to 
Dr. Bancroft. 

I wish not to be thought too impatient, but you know, my 
dear Sir, that this is the nice moment, when I ought to be 
either in search of marine knowledge, with Count D'Orvil- 
liers, Or in search of honor, in attempting some private en- 
tferprise. Before I was at liberty to gO, the good old Count 
pressed me much to accompany him ; but since Dr. Ban- 
croft has informed me that it would be agreeable to the 
minister that 1 should, I have been precluded from follow- 
ing the fleet, as the present commandant has no orders for 
that purpose. 

Thus circumstanced, without employment, and, in ap- 
pearance, cast off, I have written the within letter to the 
Prince de Nassau, which I leave open for your perusal. — 
Should you find the whole, or any part of it, improper, I beg 
of you to withhold it. 

After all my disappointments, I am yet persuaded that the 
court had, from the beginning, and still have, intentions in 
my favor, since you know the connexion was not of my 
seeking. 

I am, with the highest sense of your friendship and good- 
ness, 

Honored and dear Sir, yours, &:c. 

Brest, August ^Sth, 1778; 
His Excellency Count D'Orvilliers, ) 

General and Commander in Chief > 

of the Brest Fleet. 3 

Honored and Dear Sir, 
^ When you kindly proposed that I should accompany you 
on board the Bretagne, I had ijeen ordered from Paris for 
a private expedition. I was, indeed, sorry that I could not 
then think myself at liberty to accept your very polite and 
friendly offer. 

' Though I have not, to this moment, received a word from 
the minister since I returned here, yet 1 have understopd, 
from a friend at Paris, that M. de Sartine at last agreed 
that I should embark with you. On receiving this informa- 
tion, I immediately applied to M. de la Prevalaye for a pas- 
sage in the first ship, to join the fleet; but he says he will 



7y 

not permit my embarkation without orders from the minis- 
ter, or from you. 

This, my dear Sir, is the principal reason why I now 
trouble you. I was ambitious of the honor of attending you 
on the first campaign, where you acquired so much glory ; 
but M. de Sartine would not then permit me to go. I must 
now, therefore, beg the favor of you, should you send in anj"^ 
vessel with letters, that you will give directions to M. de la 
Prevalaye, to permit my embarkation to join you. I ar- 
dently wish to attend you with my eyes, even to the pinna- 
cle of fame, and to learn from so great and good a general. 
how I may hereafter ascend the slippery precipice, beyond 
which the edifice is erected. 

Brest, September 1 3th, 1778. 

M. DE Sartine. 
Honored Sir, 

When His Excellency Dr. Franklin first informed me thai 
you had condescended to think me worthy your notice, I 
took such pleasure in reflecting on the happy alliance be- 
tween France and America, that I was really flattered, and 
entertained a gi'ateful sense of the honor which you propo- 
sed for me, as well as the favor which the king proposed for 
America, by putting so fine a ship of war as the Indien under 
my command, and under its flag, with unlimited orders. 

In obedience to your desire, I came to Versailles ; and 
was taught to believe, that my intended ship was in deep 
water, and ready for sea. But, when the prince returned, 
I received from him the account, that the Indien could not 
be got afloat under three months. 

To employ this interval usefully, I offered to accompany 
Compte D'Orvilliers, as a volunteer, which you thought fit 
to reject. " I had, then, the satisfaction to find, that you ap- 
proved, in general, of a variety of hints for Private enter- 
prises, which I had presented for your consideration, and 
was flattered with assurances from M. le Ray de Chaumont 
and Bodwain, that three of the finest frigates in France, with 
two tenders, and a number of troops, should be immediately 
put under my command, and I should be at liberty to pur- 
sue such of my projects as I thought proper. But this fell 
to nothing, in the moment when I thought that the king's 
signature only was wanting. 



7ti 

Auolher iiiteiior armament, from L' Orient, was proposed, 
to be put under my command, which was by no means equal 
to the services that were expected from it ; for speed and 
force, both requisite, were wanting. Happily for me, this 
also failed, and I was saved from a dreadful prospect of ruin 
and dishonor. 

I had so entire a reliance that you would require nothing 
of me inconsistent with my rank and honor, that the moment 
you commanded, I came down with such haste, that, although 
my curiosity led me to look at the armament at L' Orient, 
yet I was but three days from Passy till I reached Brest. — 
Here, too, I drew a blank. But when I saw the Lively, it 
w^as no disappointment, as that ship, in sailing and equip- 
ment, is far inferior to the Ranger. 

My only disappointment here, is being precluded embark- 
ing with Compte D'Orvilliers, in pursuit of marine know- 
ledge. 

I am not a mere adventurer of fortune. Stimulated by 
reason and philanthropy, I laid aside the enjoyments of pri- 
vate life, and embarked under the flag of America when it 
was first displayed. In this line, my desire of fame is infi- 
nite ; and I must not so far forget my ow^n honor, and what 
I ow^e to my friends and to America, as to remain inactive. 
My rank knows no superior in the American marine. I 
have, long since, been appointed to command an expedition 
with five of its ships, and I can receive orders from no junior 
or inferior oflicer whatever. 

I have been here in the most tormenting suspense, for 
more than a month since my return, and agreeable to your 
desire, as mentioned to me by M. de Chaumont. 

Circular letters were sent the 8th of last month from the 
English Admiralty, because they expected me to pay another 
visit with four ships. Therefore, I trust, that if the Indien 
is not to be got out, you will not substitute a force unequal 
in strength and sailing to the enemy's cruizing ships. 

I do not wish to interfere with the harmony of the French 
marine ; but if I am still thought worthy your attention, I 
shall hope for a separate command, with liberal orders : — 
if, on the contrary, you have no farther occasion for my ser- 
vices, I have then only to ask the Alert, and a few seamen, 
with permission to return in that small vessel to America 
before winter. 



r am happy to heat that the frigates from St. Malo have 
been successful near Shetland. Had Count D'Estaign ar- 
rived in the Delaware a few days sooner, he might have 
made a most glorious and easy conquest. Many other suc- 
cessful projects may be adopted from hints which I had the 
honor to draw up, and if I can still furnish more, or execute 
any of those furnished, so as to distress and humble the 
common enemy, it will afford me the truest satisfaction. 

I am ambitious to merit the honor of your friendship, and 
am fully persuaded that 1 address a noble minded man, 
who will not be offended with the honest freedom which has 
always marked my correspondence. 

I have the honor to be, with great respect. Sic. 

Extract to His Excellency Benjamin Franklin, 

Dated Brest, September I4th, 1778. 
Honored and Dear Sir, 
'' I yesterday took the resolution to write the enclosed ex- 
plicit letter to the minister. I should not have mentioned 
my rank, had it not been hinted that it was proposed to send 
me from St. Maloes under command of French lieutenants. 
The frigates were sent in consequence of a hint from me, 
and though I am neglected, I hope they have been very suc- 
cessful. 

" It is in vain for the minister to pretend he has no ships 
to bestow, as I know to the contrary." 

Extract of a letter to the same, dated 

Brest, September 18//*, 1778. 
" I have seen the Fox mounting 24 guns, (taken formerly 
,by the Hancock and Adams,) and would accept of that ship, 
attended by the Alert, unless something better is immedi- 
ately bestowed. I shall, with this command, expect unli- 
mited orders." 

Extract of a letter to the same, dated 

Brest, November 27th, 1778. 
'• Lieut. Amiel has exercised with me patience for four 
months in this place, without society or hospitality. 

" Let them give me but powers, and I will find a ship and 
men, without loss of time. I will undertake, if necessary, 
at the risk of my private property, that the seamen's wages 
ishall be either paid from the public funds in America, or 



7o 

trom the part of prizes usually claimed by the American 
government. 

" Your silence has hurt me ; though I am sensible I owe 
much to your good offices and wishes. 

" I have read and considered well all my past letters, and 
find nothing that 1 wish I had omitted, or that 1 conceive 
could have altered any person before my friend." 

Brest, September 21 st, 1778. 

His Royal Highness le Due de Chartres. 
My Prince, 

I should be ungrateful did I not entertain the deepest 
sense of the obligation which you conferred on me, by your 
letters to the Palais Royal and Versailles, in June last. 

I was at that time happy in being sent for privately to his 
Excellency Dr. Franklin, at the desire of M.. de Sartine, 
who proposed to bestow on me a very honorable command. 

I was flattered with the assurances that three frigates, two 
tenders, and a number of troops, should be immediately put 
under my command, to pursue such projects as I thought 
proper. This plan failed. Another was proposed, where 
the force was unequal to what was expected from the ser- 
vice. Happily for me, this also failed. 

I was then ordered to the command of the Lively, to join 
some frigates on an expedition from St. Maloes. 1 arrived 
in Brest in three days from Passy, and found the Lively had 
been given to another; but this disappointment pleased 
me, when I found that the Lively was quite inferior to the 
Ranger. 

I do not wish to interfere with the harmony of the French 
marine ; but we fight in a common cause, and it is the inte- 
rest of both to distress and humble an enemy who arrogates 
to himself the sovereignty of the ocean. I could have been 
serviceable, had my hands been at liberty in the summer. 

I would accept of the as a , rather than 

undergo the mortification of returning to America unem- 
ployed, after having written to Congress that I am detained 
in Europe by the particular desire of the Court of France. 
If the minister has no farther occasion for my services, I 
have then only to ask permission to have the Alert, and 
to carry with me to America his good opinion, before the 
winter. 



# 



^ 



As, in my present mysterious situation here, I am consi- 
dered an officer in disgrace, I am persuaded I need make no 
farther apology to a brave officer and a noble minded prince, 
for the liberty I take. 

The honor your letters procured me at the Palais Royal, 
will be ever remembered with gratitude. 

Ambitious to merit your friendship and favor, 

I am, with great esteem and profound respect, &:c. 

Brest, October I9th, 1778. 

His Excellency Benjamin Franklin, 
Honored and Dear Sir, 

I hope you will find the within letter (to the king) entirely 
free from asperity or ill-nature. I have been, and am in 
the eyes of Brest and the French marine, considered as hav- 
ing incurred your displeasure, and being consequently in 
disgrace. 

The Commissioners' refusal of my bill, my journey to 
Paris without any visible reason, the cabals and misrepre- 
sentations of Lieutenant Simpson, and my present inactivi- 
ty, are held to be so many circumstantial proofs : and my 
dishonor is now so firmly believed every where that it is 
in vain for me to assert the contrary ; such a situation de- 
stroys my peace of mind, and is incompatible with my sensi- 
bihty, yet 1 am far more affected by the indignity that has 
been shown through me to yourself and to America, than 
on my own account. 

My heart cannot forgive the minister, till he makes whole 
my injured honor by a direct apology, and atonement for 
the past. 

My letter to the king cannot, I think, do harm, and un- 
less you disapprove it, I beg that it may have course. The 
Duchess de Chartres will, 1 am persuaded, undertake to 
deliver it into the king's hands, and as you may not think 
fit at present to appear in the business, either the Due de 
Rochefacault or your grandson will oblige me by waiting 
on her at the Palais Royal. The Due de Rochefacault as 
he understands English well, and is acquainted with the cir- 
cumstances would oblige me much if he could be present 
when the letter is presented to the king. I do not wish to 
trouble the Due de Chartres about this affair, as that brave 
Prince has undeservedly met with vexations of his own. 
Let not your delicacy prevent my having the honor of 



healing iVoiii you : — tor so far am I from blaming you as 
the cause of my unhappiness, that I am entirely convinced 
that you had no other motive than my honor and promotion 
as consistent with the public good. I am consequently, 
with the veneration and affection of a son who ardently 
wishes to render himself worthy your regard, 
Honoured and dear Sir, 
Yours, &LC. 

Brest, Oct. 19, 1778. 

His Most Christian Majesty, Louis, 
King of France and Navarre. 
Sire, 

After my return to Brest in the American ship of war the 
Ranger, from the Irish Channel, his excellency Dr. Frank- 
lin informed me by letter, dated June 1st, that M. de Sar- 
tine, having a good opinion of my conduct and bravery, 
had determined, with your majesty's consent and appro- 
bation, to give me the command of the ship of war the 
Indien, which was built at Amsterdam for America, but 
afterward, for political reasons, made the property of 
France. I was to act with unlimited orders under the 
commission and flag of America. And the Prince de Nas- 
sau proposed to accompany me on the ocean. 

I was deeply penetrated with a sense of the honor done 
me by this proposition, as well as of the favor which your 
majesty intended thereby to confer on America, and 1 
accepted the offer with the greater pleasure as the Con- 
gress had sent me to Europe in the Ranger, to com- 
mand the Indien, before the ownership of that vessel was 
changed. 

The minister desired to see me at Versailles to settle fu- 
ture plans of operations, and I attended him for that pur- 
pose. I was told that the Indien was at the Texel, com- 
pletely armed and fitted for sea : but the Prince de Nassau 
was sent express to Holland, and returned with a very^ 
different account ; the ship was at Amsterdam, and could 
not be got afloat or armed before the September equinox. 

The American plenipotentiaries proposed that I should 
return to America •, and as I have been appointed repeat- 
edly to the chief command of an American squadron to exe- 
cute secret enterprises, it was not doubted but that Con- 
gress would again show me a preference. M. de Sartino. 



however, thought proper to prevent my departure by writ- 
ing to the plenipotentiaries (without my knowledge) re- 
questing that I might be permitted to remain in Europe, 
and that the Ranger might be sent back to America, under 
another commander, he having special services which he 
wished me to execute. This request they readily granted, 
and 1 was flattered by the prospect of being enabled to tes-^ 
tify by my services, my, gratitude to your majesty, as the 
first prince who has so generously acknowledged our inde- 
pendence. 

There was an interval of more than three months before 
the Indien could be got afloat. To employ that period use- 
fully, when your majesty's fleet was ordered to sail from 
Brest, I proposed to the minister to embark in it as a volun- 
teer, in pursuit of marine knowledge. He objected to this, 
but at the same time approved of a variety of hints for pri- 
vate enterprises, which 1 had drawn up for his consideration. 

Two gentlemen were appointed to settle with me the 
plans that were to be adopted — who gave me assurance 
that three of the best frigates in France, with two tenders, 
and a number of boats, should be immediately put under 
my command, and to pursue such of my own projects as I 
thought proper; but this fell to nothing, when I believed 
that your majesty's signature only was wanting. 

Another armament, composed of cutters and small ves- 
sels at L'Orient, was proposed to be put under my com- 
mand, to alarm the coasts of England, and check the Jersey 
privateers ; but happily for me this also failed, and I was 
saved from ruin and dishonor ; for, as I now find, all the 
vessels sailed slow, and their united force was very in- 
significant. 

The minister then thought fit, that I should return to Brest 
to command the Lively, and join some frigates on an expedi- 
tion from St. Malo to the North Sea. I returned in haste 
for that purpose, and found that the Lively had been be- 
stowed at Brest, before the minister had mentioned that 
ship to me at Versailles. This was, however, another for- 
tunate disappointment, as the Lively proves both in sailing 
and equipment, much inferior to the Ranger, but more 
especially if it be true, as I have since understood, that the 
minister intended to give the chief command of the expe- 
dition to a lieutenant, which would have occasioned a very 
disagreeable misunderstanding ; for, as an oflicer of the first 

L 



rank ill the Anierican marine, who liaseverbeeu iionored with 
the favor and friendship of Congress, I can receive orders 
from no inferior ofliccr whatever. Mj plan was the de- 
struction of the EngUsh Baltic fleet, of great consequence 
to the enemy's marine, and then only protected by a single 
frigate ! I would have held myself responsible for its suc- 
cess had I commanded the expedition. 

M. de Sartine afterward sent orders to Count D'Orvil- 
liers to receive me on board the fleet, agreeable to my 
former proposal, but the order did not arrive until after the 
departure of the fleet the last time from Brest, nor was 1 
made acquainted with the circumstance before the fleet re- 
turned here. 

Thus have I been chained down to shameful inactivity, 
for nearly five months. I have lost the best season of the 
year, and such opportunities of serving my country, and 
acquiring honor, as 1 cannot again expect this war; and, 
to my infinite mortification, having no command, I am con- 
sidered every where, an oflicer cast off', and in disgrace for 
secret reasons. 

'■ 1 have written respectful letters to the minister, none of 
which has he condescended to answer. I have written to 
the Prince of Nassau with as little effect, and I do not under- 
stand-that any apology has been made to the great and 
venerable Dr. Frankhn, whom the minister has made the 
instrument of bringing me into such unmerited trouble. 

Having written to Congress to reserve no command for 
me in America, my sensibility is the more affected by this 
unworthy situation in the sight of your majesty's fleet. I, 
however, make no remark on the treatment I have received. 

Although I wish not to become my own panegyrist, T 
must beg your majesty's permission to observe, that [ am 
not an adventurer in search of fortune, of which, thank 
God, I have a sufficiency. 

When the American banners were first displayed, I drew 
my sword in support of the violated dignity and rights of 
human nature ; and both honor and duty prompt me stead- 
fastly to continue the righteous pursuit, and to sacrifice to 
it not only my private enjoyments, but even life if neces- 
sary. 1 must acknowledge that the generous praise which 
I have received from Congress and others, exceeds the merit 
of my past services, therefore f the more ardently wish for fv- 
fvre opp 07' f unities of testifying my gratitude by my activity. 



83 

As your majesty by espousing the cause of America, has 
become the " protector of the rights- of human nature," 1 
am persuaded that you will not disregard my situation, nor 
sutfcrme to remain any longer in this insupportable disgrace. 
I am, with perfect gratitude and profound respect. 
Sire, 
Your Majesty's very obliged, very obedient, 

And very humble servant, 

J. P. Jones. 

Brest, October 19//?. 1778. 

To Madame la Duchesse deCnARTRES. 
Madam, 

The business which brought me from Brest to Paris last 
summer, when I had the pleasure of paying my respects to 
your royal highness, afforded me a very fair prospect of being 
enabled immediately to pay a much more successful visit 
to the enemy's coast than that from which I was then re- 
turned. I appeared at Versailles by the particular desire of 
M. de Sartinc, who in consequence of the high opinion he 
professed to have of my conduct and bravery, voluntarily 
proposed, (as I understood with the consent and" approbation 
of his majesty,) to bestow on me a very honorable command ; 
he having written a letter to their excellencies the Ameri- 
can plenipotentiaries requesting as a favor that I might be 
permitted to remain in Europe. Yet the minister has made 
no apology for all this, either to myself, (who did not seek 
after the commission,) nor to his excellency Dr. Franklin, 
through whom it was accepted. 

1 had the honor to furnish the minister with a number of 
plans, whichhe approved, for secret expeditions, but the va- 
rious armaments which have been proposed to be put under 
my command to pursue my own projects, every one of 
these armaments have fallen to nothing, some of them even 
at the moment when I was taught to believe that the king's 
signature alone was wanting. Thus have I been trifled with 
for nearly five months, the best season of the year, and such 
opportunities of serving my country, and acquiring honors 
as I again expect in the course of the war, are lost. I have 
written to Congress to reserve no command for me in Ame- 
rica, and to my inexpressible mortification, having no com- 
mand here, I am considered every where as an officer in dis- 
grace. I am not an adventurer in search of fortune: on 



84 

ihe contrary I laid aside my enjoyments of private liJe, and 
drew my sword at the commencement of this war only in 
support of the dignity and violated rights of human nature ; 
and honored as I am with the favor and friendship of Con- 
gress, both honor and duty prompt me steadfastly to perse- 
vere till these rights are established, or lose my life in the 
righteous pursuit. But as I see no prospect of being soon 
relieved from this unworthy situation, I have written the en- 
closed letter to his majesty, which I must beseech your royal 
highness to present, — you will thereby add a singular obli- 
gation to what I already owe to your former condescending 
attention. I should be extremely happy to succeed through 
the influence of so amiable a princess, and so powerful an ad- 
vocate whom I perfectly esteem and respect, being truly and 
always in the artless sincerity of my heart, 
Madam, 

Your Royal Highness's very obedient, 
and very humble servant, 
J. P. Jones. 

Brest, November I3th, 1778. 

The Hon. Robert Morris, Philadelphia. 
Honored and Dear Sir, 

My fortune has been so chequered since I left Quiberoii 
Bay, that I could have sent you no general account of my 
situation that would not have given you more pain than plea- 
sure, and I know that you have vexations enough of your 
own. 

The within papers will show that my roses have not been 
without a superabundance of thorns, and perhaps it will ap- 
pear romance that I have succeeded under circumstances ; 
which I am sure I should not have done, had I not been my 
own counsellor. 

I have been here in the most disagreeable situation for 
five months. It has been urged that the rules of the service 
will not admit of giving me command of ships detached from 
the royal marine : — but the great obstacle is, that the French 
officers (though they would gladly think me in disgrace) are 
stung to the soul, and cannot look at me here, but with ri- 
val eyes, their cabals are so high and dangerous that the 
minister really cannot, and dare not do what he wishes. 
He km. ho7vever, authorised M. de Chnumont, to purchase a 






8^ 

ship to my liking., if to be found in any private dock or yard 
in France. 

What the result of this may be, I know not, but I hope it 
will set me before the spring once more afloat. 

It has been to me a most unfortunate connexion, and has, 
I fear, created me some enemies through jealousy, and be- 
cause 1 am bound in honor, not to publish the particulars. 

I submit the whole to your discretion, with entire confi- 
dence as the guardian of my honor, to whom 1 owe the most 
singular obligations. 

1 shall have the honor to write you by future opportuni- 
ties an account of what fortune attends me, meantime believe 
me, I am, with real esteem and affection. 

Dear Sir, yours, &c. 

Brest, November '2,1 st, 1778. 

His Excellency Arthur Lee. 
Sir, 

I have had the honor to receive your letter of the 16lh 
current. It is my duty, and will ever afford me pleasure, 
to give every satisfactory information in my power respect- 
ing any circumstance that regards the public interest, and 
my conduct as an American oflicer. In my letter of the 3d 
of June, to the commissioners, I was very particular in ac- 
counting for the prizes I had taken. On my way from Ame- 
rica to Nantz, I took two brigs laden with fruit, from Malaga, 
for London. The one of which you inquire, arrived at 
Nantz, and was sold very cheap by Messrs. Morris & Wil- 
liams, the captors' moiety of which was paid them in Fe- 
bruary, agreeable to your letter. This is all that came with- 
in my knowledge ; but I have understood, and believe, that 
the latter acted in that business by virtue of the authority 
which he received from the former, to whom I made appli- 
cation on my arrival. Should any farther account be neces- 
sary, I am always ready to give it as far as it lays in my. 
power. 

If Mr. Lee will for a moment recur to my letter to him, 
dated on board the Ranger, the 26th of February last, he 
will find no reason to charge me with want of due respect. 
The hand-bill that was enclosed, by which I became ac- 
countable to those who entered to serve under my command 
for the regular payment of their wages, having been approved 
of by the Marine Committee, (as certified to me under their 



■i- V it 



at; 

secretary's hand,) the pubHc faith was thereby pledged to 
put it in my power, else I should have found other means to 
fulfil that engagement. And this appears to have been Mr. 
Lee's opinion, when he wrote with his own hand a letter of 
credit in my favor, at Passy, the 10th of January last, now 
before me. 

The handful of men under my command had been led 
through many dangers of storms and enemies, and, though 
in want of clothing and money, were returned with some cre- 
dit to Brest, yet when, on the 16th of May, I ventured to sign 
my first draft on the public funds for their relief, agreeable 
to my letter of advice, my signature was dishonored. 

Neither Dr. Franklin nor Mr. Adams were acquainted 
with my engagement to the crew ; but Mr. Lee, who had 
been better informed, concurred to dishonor my draft, and 
left me with two hundred prisoners of war, a number of sick 
and wou'. led, an almost naked crew, and a ship after a se- 
vere engagement, in want of stores and provisions, from the 
9th of May till the 1 .3th of June, destitute of any public sup- 
port; yet I found means to cure my wounded, feed my peo- 
ple, to refit the ship, and guard my prisoners. 

The dishonor that had been done me was known through 
the French fleet and elsewhere ; yet, though I was the first 
that had appeared at Brest and obtained from France the 
honors due the American flag, I made no public complaints, 
and only expressed my concern by letter to the commission- 
ers, at the disgraceful wound which the public credit had 
suffered through me. And now I beg leave to ask Mr. Lee, 
if I have deserved such treatment ? 

The wretched situation of the crew occasioned murmur- 
ing, which was artfully fomented by an officer in disgrace, 
who succeeded too well in persuading the people that 1 had 
deceived them, and that they should cast the whole blame 
upon me, as the hinderance to their receiving wages, prize- 
money, and bounties. In this agitation of their minds, he 
obtained from them certificates, &c. to the commissioners 
in his favor. 

These poor men were at last dragged away without clo- 
tliing, having only received at Brest eight or nine crowns 
each, as prize-money, the moment of their departure, and 
not being allowed time to lay out that trifle, and imprecating 
general curses on the public service, public agents, and all 
I'onrorned. 



87 

This is not the m ay to estabhsh a navy. (Jongress has 
made laws for its internal government, and appointed the 
officers alone as magistrates to put them into execution. — 
The standing order of the Marine Committee has been to 
preserve strict discipline in the fleet, and all applications of 
complaint, either against individuals or numbers, they have 
rejected without answer. It not being, as they have told 
me, the province of the civil power to interfere in the inter- 
nal government of ships of war. And you may now see, that 
listening to the people of the Ranger, instead of doing good, 
has destroyed even the shadow of subordination. 

Mr. Amiel has told me, that you objected to my receiving 
copies of some papers that concern me, because you thought 
J had not made, a respectful application. A copy of it is 
enclosed, which, though not in form of an humble petition, 
I believe it will be difficult to construe into disrespect. True 
respect can never be extorted ; and I will say of myself, that 

" The tribute of respect to greatness due, 

" Not the jjribed sycophant more freely pays."' 

I shall only add, that the dishonor of my bill of exchange 
has not only served to corroborate the ungrateful misrepre- 
sentations of Lieut. Simpson, but also occasioned the infa- 
mous attachment of the Ranger's prizes, for the provisions 
previously furnished by M. Bersolle. 

I thank you, Sir, for your polite attentions while I was at 
Paris last winter, which I received as a proof of your good 
opinion, and which I have not since forfeited by any mis- 
conduct. 

The apparent mystery of my present situation cannot 
be imputed to me as a fault, or if it is, I am responsible to 
Congress. I have endeavoured, in my narrow walk, to pur^ 
sue a steady line of duty, wishing to offend none. 
I have the honor to be. 

With due respect, Sir, yours, &c. 

Versailles, February ith, 1779. 
John p. Jones, Esq. Commander of) 
the American Navy in Europe. 5 
Sir, 
I announce to you, that, in consequence of the exposition 
which I have laid before the King, of the distinguished man- 
ner in which you have served th^ United States, and of the 



8!J 

entire conlideuce which your conduct has merited on the 
part of Congress, His Majesty has thought proper to place 
inider your command the ship Duras, of forty guns, at pre- 
sent at L'Oricnt. I am about, in consequence, to issue the 
necessary orders for the complete armament of the said ship. 
The commission which was given you at your departure 
from America, will authorise you to hoist the flag of the 
United States, and you will likewise serve yourself with the 
powers which have been remitted to you, to form your 
equipage with American subjects ; but as you may find too 
much difficulty in raising a sufficient number, the King per- 
mits you to levy volunteers until you obtain a sufficient 
number, exclusive of those who are necessary to manoeuvre 
the ship. It shall be my care to procure you the necessary 
officers, and you may assure yourself that I shall contribute 
every thing in my power to promote the success of your 
enterprise. 

As soon as you are prepared for sea, you will set sail with- 
out waiting for any ulterior orders ; and you will determine 
yourself the course you are to take, whether in the Euro- 
pean or American seas, observing always to render me an 
exact account of each event that may take place during 
your cruize, as often as you may enter the ports under the 
dominion of the King. 

So flattering a mark of the confidence with which you 
are honored, cannot but encourage you to use all your zeal 
in the common cause, persuaded, as I am, that you will jus- 
tify my opinion on every occasion. It only rests with me 
to recommend to you to shew to those prisoners who may 
fall into your hands, those sentiments of humanity which the 
King professes towards his enemies, and to take the greatest 
care, not only of your own equipage, but also of all the 
ships which may be placed under your orders. 
I have the honor to be, most perfectly. Sir, 
Your very humble and very obedient servant, 

De Sartine. 

P. S. According to your desire, Sir, I consent that the 
Duras takes the name of the Bon Homme Richard. 

Passy, Feb. 6th, 1779. 
M. de Sartine, Minister of Marine, Versailles. 

My Lord, 
I have had the honor to receive your Excellency's letter 
dated the 1st, by the hand^ of Mr. Gamier. I take the ear- 



89 

liest opportunity to offer you my sincere and grateful tiiauki- 
for so singular and honorable a mark of your confidence and 
approbation. 

It shall be my duty to represent in the strongest terms to 
Congress, the generous and voluntary resolution which their 
great ally, the protector of the rights of human nature, and 
the best of kings has taken to promote the honor of their 
flag, and I beseech you to assure his majesty that my heart 
is impressed with the deepest sense of the obligation which 
1 owe his condescending favor and good opinion, and which it 
shall be my highest ambition to merit, by rendering every 
service in my power to the common cause ; I cannot ensure 
success, but I will endeavor to deserve it. 

I beg leave to assure your excellency, that I will carefully 
observe your present as well as future instructions, and that 
I will communicate to you from time to time a faithful ac- 
count of my proceedings. 

I will avail myself of the authority which you have given 
me to raise French volunteers to serve as marines, as I fear 
there may not be easily found a sufficient number of Ameri- 
can seamen. 

It has always been my custom to treat my people and pri- 
soners with hospitality and kindness, and you may be assured 
that I shall ever take pleasure in promoting the happiness of 
every person under my command. 

, Your having permitted me to alter the name* of the ship 
has given me a pleasing opportunity of paying a well merited 



* It is a fact not generally- known, that the late John Paul Jones, at the 
time that he was attempting to fit out a small squadron, during' the late war, 
in one of the ports of Fiance, to cruize on the coast of England, was muoh 
delayed by neglects and disappointments from the court, that had nearly 
frustrated his plans. Chance one day threw into his hands an old almanac, 
containing Poor RichanTs Maxims, by Doctor Franklin. In that curious 
assemblage of useful instruction a man is advised, " if he wishes to havt- 
any business faithfully and expeditiously performed, to go on it himself: 
othei-wise, to send." Jones was immediately struck, upon reading this max- 
im, with the impropriety of his past conduct, in only sending letters and 
messages to court, when he ought to have gone in person. He instantly set 
out, and by dint of personal representations, procured the immediate equip- 
ment of the squadron, which afterward spread terror along the eastern 
coast of England, and with which he so gloriously captured the Serapis and 
Countess of Scarborough, British ships of war, returning from the Baltic. 
In gratitude to Dr. Franklin's maxim, he named the principal ship of his 
squadron after the name of the pretended almanac-maker, h Bon homnxf 
Richard. 

M ' 



oompliment to a great and good man, to whom I am under 
obligations, and who honors me with his friendship. 

I am in the fullness and grateful affection of my hearts, 
and with perfect esteem and respect. 

My Lord, 

Yours, &.C. 

Paris,April 27th, 1779. 

Captain John Paul Jones, Commander, &c. 

Your obliging letter, my dear Sir, is just coming into 
my hands, as I was myself going to write you by M. de 
Chaumont, who is determined to undertake a journey to 
I'Orient: — I think you are extremely right in refusing such 
guns as would expose your reputation, the lives of your men, 
and even the honor of your flag: — it is not without con- 
•cern, that I hear of cannon being promised to any other peo- 
ple but you, and 1 hope these difficulties shall be raised by 
the ministry. I am just going to add some lines to M. de 
Chaumont, that he might take proper orders (if any forgotten) 
along with him — the expedition I want to have soon done, 
because my speedy return about the middle of the summer, 
is somewhat useful to the common cause, and to the Ameri- 
can affairs ; I therefore hope every thing will be ready to- 
wards the 7th of the next month, — and I intend to arrive 
about that time : I am very happy to hear that the Monsieur 
will be with us, — we shall also get the Alliance, but I think 
we must not if possible, put troops on board of her, because 
there would be disputes between the land officers, and captain 
Landais. Don't you think, my dear Sir, we might have 
them divided in this way : 

On board the Bon homme Richard 50 dragoons, 

and 1 50 soldiers, .... 200 
On board the Monsieur, .... 300 
On board the Pallas, the artillery, and . 1 50 

If you don't like it, you might have 150 men on board of 
the Alliance, but I fear disputes. 

M. de Chaumont will make the little arrangements for the 
table of the ofl[icers, &c. ; but I direct him to take your ideas, 
and I don't wish any thing but what will seem to you the 
best calculated for the common good, and your own agree- 
ment. 

I will have with me a colonel, q. major, three volunteering 
officers, and an engineer, two of the young officers may go 
with another ship, to avoid the crowd. 



Though this command is not equal to ray military rank, 
the love of the public cause made me very happy to take it ; 
and as this motive is the only one which conducts all my 
private and public actions, I am sure I'll find in you the 
same zeal, and we shall do as much, and more than any 
others would perform in the same situation. Be certain, 
my dear Sir, that I'll be happy to divide with you whatever 
share of glory may expect us, and that my esteem and affecr 
tion for you is truly felt, and will last for ever. 

I am, my dear Sir, with a sincere regard. 
Yours, 

Lafayette. 

I intend also to take Dr. Bancroft with us, but as I am 
obliged to leave many good officers to whom I am indebted^ 
I'd rather wish the Irish gentleman might not come, unless 
you have a very particular affection for him, in which case I 
have no objection. 

D Orient, May \st, 1779. 

His Excellency M. deSARTiNE, &c. 
My Lord, 

I have this day had the honor to receive from the hands of 
M. de Chaumont your excellency's letter of 27th ult. This 
unsolicited mark of his majesty's confidence and favor lays 
me under the deepest, and most lasting obligation ; the sense 
whereof, I shall fully retain to the last hour of my life. 

If I have any abilities they shall be exerted to the utmost 
in the employment of the force entrusted to my command, 
and I hope my conduct will at least deserve success. 

I am persuaded that no misunderstanding will arise be- 
tween the other* commander and myself, because we love 
and esteem each other, therefore it only remains, that I re- 
turn your excellency sincere and grateful thanks for your 
pohte and kind attention, beseeching you to assure the best 
of kings that I will faithfully communicate to Congress an 
account of the great honor done in France to the American 
flag. 

I am, and shall always be, with sentiments of grateful es- 
teem and respect, and the highest ambition to merit the con- 
tinuance of your favor, 

My Lord, &c. 

J. F. Jones. 
* The Marquis de Lafayette 



U Orient, May int. 1779. 
Major General De La Fayette. 

I have, my dear Marquis, this day had the singular plea- 
sure of receiving your very esteemed letter by the hands of 
M. de Chaumont : so flattering and affectionate a proof of 
your esteem and friendship, has made an impression on 
my mind that vrill attend me while I live. This I hope to 
prove by more than words. Where men of fine feelings 
are concerned, there is seldom misunderstanding ; and I am 
sure I should do violence to my sensibility if I were capa- 
ble of giving you a moment's pain by any part of my con- 
duct. Therefore, without any apology, I shall expect you 
to point out my errors when we are together alone with 
perfect freedom, and I think I dare promise you your re- 
proof shall not be lost. * 

M. de Chaumont is now Endeavouring to settle matters 
witli respect to the cannon. I hope he will succeed, and if 
so, the Bon homme Richard may soon be got ready. I 
could say more with respect to the accommodation of the 
men. I hope no difficulty will arise, for she can carry 350. 
or 400, should there be occasion. 

I have received from the good Dr. Franklin instructions 
at large, which do honor to his Uberal mind, and which it 
will give me the truest satisfaction to execute. 

I cannot ensure success but will endeavour to deserve it. 

With sincere esteem, and affection of my heart, and with 
the truest regard and respect, I am always, 

Yours, &:c. 

D Orient, May 1st, 1779. 

His Excellency Benjamin Franklin. 
Honored and Dear Sir, 

The letter I had the honor to receive from you to-day, 
together with your liberal and noble-minded instructions 
would make a coward brave. You have called up every 
sentiment of public virtue in my breast, and it shall be my 
pride and ambition, in the strict pursuit of your instruc- 
tions, to deserve success. 

Be assured that very iew prospects could afford me so 
true a satisfaction as that of rendering some acceptable ser- 
vice to the common cause, and at the same time relieving 
from captivity, (by furnishing the means of exchange) our 
unfortunate fellow-subjects from the hands of the enem}'. 



It only remains tor me to return your excellency my 
thanks for past instances of your friendship, especially in the 
last of your particular confidence. 

I am, and shall be to the end of my life, with the most 
affectionate esteem and respect. 

Honored and Dear Sir, Yours. 

V Orient, May 13th, 1779. 

The Hon. John Adams, on board the Alliance. 
Sir, 

You will confer on me a singular obligation by favoring 
me with your opinion and advice, respecting the unhappy 
misunderstanding which, I am told, prevails on board the 
Alliance. I ask your advice because, though I am deter- 
mined to preserve order and discipline where I command, 
yet I wish to reprove with moderation, and never to punish 
while there remains a good alternative. It appears that 
there is fault, at least in one of the paities, and I wish 
much to know where the fault lies, for without harmony 
and general good-will among the officers, I cannot proceed 
with a good prospect. I beseech you to favor me with an 
answer as soon as possible. When I have the honor of see- 
ing you ashore, I will put into your hands a letter which I 
'*liave received ; in the mean time, if you require it, 1 will 
promise to keep your answer a secret. 

I have the honor to be, with sentiments of great respect. 
Sir, your very obhged, very obedient, 

Humble servant. 

Passy, May 9th, 1773. 

Hon. John Paul Jones. 
Dear Sir, 

I received yours of the 14th, and communicated to the 
Marquis what related to him. I send you enclosed two 
more commissions, which I have found since your depar- 
ture. It is difficult to revoke commissions once given, and 
there might be some inconvenience in French officers re- 
taining those commissions unrevoked, after the occasion of 
giving them is past ; 1 therefore, am of opinion, that the 
conclusion might, be better thus, " to continue in force 
during the expedition, or expeditions, intended under the 
command of the honorable J. P. Jones, Esq." By this 
means they will continue if you should make more expedi- 



94 

tions, and become void of themselves when the force is • 
dissolved, and the French ships are withdrawn from under 
your command. 

I am sorry for, and ashamed of the divisions on board the 
AUiance. I hope these commissions will enable you to 
compose them. I do not know enough of the navy law to 
judge of the propriety of your giving commissions to lieu- 
tenants, and therefore can give no opinion about it. I send 
you all the warrants 1 have, will they not serve instead of 
commissions, till such can be obtained ? My best wishes 
attend you, being ever, 

Dear, Sir, 

Your faithful friend, and most 
Obedient humble servant, 

B. Frankli.v. 

Paris, May 22d, 1779. 
The Hon. John Paul Jones. 

Dear Sir, 
I dare say you will be very sorry to hear that the king's 
dispositions concerning our plan, have been quite altered, and 
that instead of meeting you, I am now going to take the com- 
mand of the king's regiment at Jaints. What will be fur- 
ther determined about your squadron is yet uncertain, and 
the ministers are to consult it with Dr. Franklin. Political 
and military reasons have occasioned that alteration of 
things, and I am only to tell you, my good friend, how 
sorry I feel not to be a witness of your success, abilities, 
and glory. I hope every thing will be altered for the best, 
and the more calculated for the common advantage. Be 
convinced. Sir, that nothing could please me more than the 
pleasure of having again something of the kind to under- 
take with such an officer as Capt. Jones. That occasion I 
shall ever wish for, and I will, I hope, find before the end of 
this war. 

With the sincerest affection and esteem, 

I am, dear Sir, yours, 

Lafayette. 
P. S. Whatever part of the world you will be in, I hope 
you will let me often hear from you. 

I recognize this as a true copy. Lafayette. 
Citi/ of Washington, February, 1825. 



Extracts of letters from the secret correspondence of his Ex- 
cellency Benjamin Franklin, Minister Plenipotentiary of 
the United States to the court of Versailles. 

Passy, May 2eth, 1779. 

To the Committee for Foreign Affairs. 
Gentlemen, 

The Marquis de la Fayette, who arrived here on the 1 1th 
of February, brought me yours of October 28th, and the 
new commission, credentials, and instructions, the Congress 
have honoured me with. 

I immediately acquainted the minister for foreign affairs 
with my appointment, and communicated to him, as usual, 
a copy of my credential letter, on which a day was named 
for my reception. The end of that part of the instructions, 
which relates to American seamen taken by the French in 
English ships, had already been obtained ; Capt. Jones hav- 
ing had for some time an order from court, directed to the 
keepers of the prisoners, requiring thom to deliver to him 
such Americans as should be found in their hands, that they 
might be at liberty to serve under his command. Most of 
them have accordingly been delivered to him, if not all. 
The minister of marine having entertained a high opinion of 
him from his conduct and bravery in taking the Drake, was 
desirous of employing him in the command of a particular 
enterprise ; and, to that end, requested us to spare him, which 
we did, and sent the Ranger home, under the command of his 
lieutenant. Various accidents have hitherto postponed his 
equipment, but he now has the command of a 50 gun ship, 
with some frigates, all under American commission and 
colours, fitted out at the king's expense, and will sail it is 
said, about the 1st of June. The Marquis de la Fayette 
was, with some land troops, to have gone with him ; but I 
now understand the Marquis is not to go, the plan being a 
little changed. The minister of marine requesting that the 
Alliance might be added to Com. Jones's little squadron, 
and offering to give a passage to Mr. Adams in the frigate 
with the new ambassador, I thought it best to continue her 
a little longer in Europe, hoping she may, in the project- 
ed cruize, by her extraordinary swiftness, be a means of 
taking prisoners enough to redeem the rest of our country- 
men now in the English goals. With this view, as well as 
to oblige the minister, I ordered her to join Capt. Jones, at 
L'Orient. and obey his orders, where she now is accordingly. 



From M. Le Ray de Chaumont, dated 

VOrient, June 10th, if 1^. 

M. de Chaumont presents his respects to Mr. Jones, and 
informs him that every thing is on board except the powder, 
which will require only two hours, when he may set sail 
with a favorable wind. 

M. de Chaumont informs at the same time Mr. Jones, 
that he will have papers to sign before his departure, for the 
sundry articles which the King has furnished to his ship ; 
therefore, M. de C. earnestly entreats Mr. Jones not to 
neglect it, considering the immense expenses which the ves- 
sels in the port have occasioned to the King. 

M. de Chaumont reminds Mr. Jones, that M. de Sartine 
has left to him and to M. Landais the choice of two excel- 
lent American pilots, to be embarked on board the King's 
frigate La Sensible. 

M. de Chaumont thinks it his duty to remind Mr. Jones 
of a communication he has made to him against M. Amiel. 
his first lieutenant, from which it appears that, in case Mr. 
Jones should be so unfortunate as to be killed in battle, it 
would be improper to leave the command of the King's 
ship to M. Amiel, who docs not seem to deserve so much 
confidence, by his conduct when commanding the ship the 
Ranger. 

M. de Chaumont, in addition to the preceding observa- 
tions, suggests that Mr. Jones's crew, being for the most part 
composed of Englishmen, which M. Amiel had recruited in 
the prisons, cannot be kept in subjection but by the corps 
of French volunteers which is on board the Bon homme 
Richard, and that it ^ould be desirable these volunteers 
should be commanded by officers of their own nation, well 
skilled in the art of war, and provided with sufficient re- 
commendations to justify the choice which will be made of 
them. 

M. de Chaumont has the honor, &c. 

. I DOrient, June 14th. 1779. 

Mr. Jones, Commander of the ) 
vShip Bon homme Richard. > 
Sir, 
The situation of the officers who have accepted commis- 
sions from Congress to join the armament of the ship Bon 
homme Richard, which you command, may be in contra- 
diction with the interests of their own ships ; this induces 



-^^ 



'^^Sl^ 



y7 

me to i=6quest you to enter into an engagement with me. 
that you shall not require from the said vessels any services 
but such as will be conformable with the orders which those 
officers shall have, and that in no case you shall require any 
changes to be made in the formation of their crews, which, 
as well the vessels themselves, as their armaments, shall be 
entirely at the disposition of the commandants of the said 
vessels, who shall be answerable to those who have armed 
them. I also beg you to agree, that all the prizes which 
shall be made, be addressed to such consignees as I shall 
point out, for the preservation, of thQ interests of all the 
concerned. 

I have the honor, &c. 

Le Ray de Chaumont, 

Passy, June 30ih, 1779, 
j\Ir. Jones, Commander of the ) 
Ship Bon homme Richard, 5 
Sir, 
I have the honor of wishing you much success in your 
uew cruize. Should you make any prizes, and take them 
to Bergen, in Norway, I beg you to send them to the French 
Consul, if there be one ; if there be none, then to the prin- 
cipal French Agent, to account to me for the same. And 
such as you send to Ostend or Dunkirk, you will consign to 
M. Cailliez, senior, merchant, at Dunkirk, who will account 
for them to me ; and you may rest assured, that the interests 
of all those who may have a share in such prizes will be 
attended to in a proper manner. 

I have the honor, &c. 

Le Ray de Chaumont* 

Passif, June 30th, 1779, 
Honorable Captain .Tonfs- 

Dear Sir, 
Being arrived at Groaix, you are to make the best of your 
way with the vessels under your command to the West of 
Ireland, and establish your cruize on the Orcades, the Cape 
of Derneus, and the Dogger Bank, in order to take the ene- 
my's property in those seas. 

The prizes you may make send to Dunkirk, Ostend, or 
Bergen, in Norway, according to your proximity to, either 

N 



98 

of those ports. Address them to the persons M. de Chau- 
mont shall indicate to you. 

About the 15th of August, when you will have sufficiently 
cruized in these seas, you are to make route for the Texel, 
where you will meet my further orders. 

If by any personal accident you should be rendered una- 
ble to execute these instructions, the officer of your squad- 
ron next in rank is to endeavour to put them in execution. 
With best wishes for your prosperity, I am ever, 
Dear Sir, 
Your affectionate friend and humble servant, 

B. Franklin. 

On board the Bon homme Richard, at anchor, ^ 
Isle of Groaix, off UOrient, July \st, 1779. S 

His Excellency Benjamin Franklin. 
Honored and Dear Sir, 

On the 19th ult., the American squadron under my com- 
mand, consisting of the Bon homme Richard 42 guns, Alli- 
ance 36 guns, Pallas 30 guns, Cerf 1 8 guns, and the Ven- 
geance 12 guns, sailed from hence with a convoy of mer- 
chant ships and transports with troops, «Sz;c. bound to the dif- 
ferent ports and garrisons between this place and Bourdeaux. 

On the evening of the following day, I had the satisfaction 
to see the latter part of the convoy safe within the entrance 
of the river of Bourdeaux, the rest having been safely escort- 
ed into the entrance of Nantz, Rochefort, &:c. But at the 
preceding midnight, while lying-to off Isle of Vew, the Bon 
homme Richard and Alliance got foul of one another, and 
carried away the head and cut-water, sprit-sail yard, and jib- 
boom of the former, with the mizen-mast of the latter ; for- 
tunately, however, neither received damage in the hull. In 
the evening of the Slat, I sent the Cerf to reconnoitre two 
sail, and Capt. Varage was so ardent in the pursuit, that he 
had lost sight of the squadron next morning ; and I am now 
told, that he had a warm engagement with one of them, a 
sloop of 14 guns, which he took, but was obhged to aban- 
don, on the approach of another enemy of superior force. 
The action lasted an hour and a half; several men were 
killed and wounded on board the Cerf. That cutter is now 
fitting at L'Orient. 

On the 22d we had a rencontre with three ships of war. 
They were to windward, and bore down in a line abreast 






99 

for some time, but seeing we were prepared to receive t|iem. 
they hauled their wind, and by carrying a press of sail got 
clear, in spite of our utnnost endeavours to bring them to 
action. On the 26th, we lost company of the Alliance and 
Pallas. I am unable to say where the blame lays. I gave 
the ships a rendezvous off Penmark-rocks, but did not meet 
them there. 

lanchored here yesterday at noon, having had a rencon- 
tre the night before with two of the enemy's ships of war 
in the offing, in the sight of this island and of Belle-Islc. — - 
Previous to this, I had given the Vengeance leave to make 
the best of her way to this road, so that the enemy found 
me alone in a place where I had no expectation of a hostile 
visit. They appeared at first earnest to engage, but their 
courage failed, and they fled with precipitation, and to my 
mortification out-sailed the Bon homme Richard and got. 
clear. I had, however, a flattering proof of the martial 
spirit of my crew, and 1 am confident, that had I been able 
to get between the two, which was my intention, we should 
iiave beaten them both together. 

In the course of this short cruize I have endeavoured to 
meet the views of the King. I , have traversed the Golf de 
Gascogne over and over — I have fallen in with and chased 
various vessels. 

I am ready to enter with cheerfulness upon any plan or 
service that is consonant with the common interest, and 
meets with your approbation ; and if I fail, it shall not be 
for want of attempting to succeed where an opportunity 
appears. 
I am, with sentiments of grateful esteem and affection, 
Dear Sir, yours, &c. 

P. S. Please give the above information to M. de Sartine 
vmd M. de Chaumont. 

Passy, Jidi/ 8th, 1779. 
Honorable J. P. Jones. 

Dear Sir, 
I received your favors of the 2d and 4th inst. I am sorry 
for the accidents that have obliged your little squadron to 
return and refit ; but hope all may be for the best. Some 
days since, Mr. Chaumont handed to me the substance of 9, 
letter in French, which contained heads of the instructions 



■Y:- 



100 

th-At M. de Sartiiae wished me to give you. I had them 
translated and put into the form of a letter to you, which I 
signed and gave back to Mr. C, who I suppose has sent it 
to you. I have no other orders to give ; for, as the Court 
is at the chief expense, I think they have the best right tt> 
direct. I observe what you write about a change of the 
destination ; but when a thing has been once considered and 
determined On in council, they do not care to resume the 
Consideration of it, having much business on hand, and there 
is not now time to obtain a reconsideration. 

It has been hinted to me, that the intention of ordering 
your cruize to finish at the Texel, is with a view of getting 
out that ship ; but this should be kept a secret. I can say 
nothing about Capt. Landais' prize. I suppose the minis- 
ter has an account of it, but I have heard nothing from him 
about it. If he reclaims it on account of his passport, we 
must then consider what is to be done. I approve of the 
careenage proposed for the Alliance, as a thing necessary* 
As she is said to be a remarkable swift sailer, I should hope 
you might by her means take some privateers and a number 
of prisoners, so as to continue the cartel, and redeem all our 
poor countrymen. 

My best wishes attend you, being ever, with great esteem, 

Dear Sir, 
Your affectionate friend, and most obedient servant, 

B. Franklin. 

P. S. If it should fall in your way, remember that the 
Hudson's Bay ships are very valuable. 

B. F. 

VOrieni, July 12th, 1779. 
Extract to Dr. Franklin. 
I have inspected the Bon homme Richard, and it is the 
constructor's opinion that the ship is too old to admit of the 
necessary alterations. Thus circumstanced I wish to have 
an opportunity of attempting an essential service to render 
myself worthy a better and faster sailing ship. 

V Orient, July 2Gth, 1779. 
His Excellency Benjamin Franklin. 

Dear Sir, 
r have received advice that the Jamaica fleet will sail 
bdine^y^rds, escorted by a 50 gun ship, and two strong fri- 



101 

gjites. Should we fall in with that force, we will certainly' 
engage, and I hope overcome it. We shall probably be so 
much cut up, as to be unable to prevent the escape of the 
convoy. If the ship Monsieur could be added to my force, 
it would give us a superiority, and perhaps enable us to take 
and destroy the Jamaica fleet. I submit this idea, how*> 
ever, to your superior v/isdom. 

I have the honor, &c. 

Passy^ July ^Bth, 1779. 
Hon. Capt. Jones. 

Dear Sir, 
I have just received yours of the 25th. I was yesterday 
with M. de Sartine, at Versailles, who appeared uneasy at 
some accounts he had received of a mutinous disposition 
in your crew. He desired me to acquaint M. de Chau- 
mont that he wished to see him that evening. This 
morning M. de Chaumont sent me a note, of which I en- 
close a copy : I understand he goes down with a view to 
provide you a better set of hands. You must have heard 
that 1 1 9 American prisoners are arrived in a cartel at 
Nantes : perhaps out of them you may pick some very 
good seamen. But if this affair should be likely to take 
time, the Alliance will have my orders to make a cruise 
alone, agreeable to the minister's desire. But I hope the 
reports of your crew are not founded, and that your joint 
<:ruise will still take place, and be successful. 
I have the honor to be, with sincere esteem, 
Dear Sir, 

Your most obedient, and 

Most humble servant, 

Benjamin Franklin, 

The Honorable John P. Jones, commander in chief of the 
American ships of war now in Europe. 

You are hereby directed and required forthwith, to hold 
yourself in readiness to proceed in company with me to 
sea. You are to show careful attention to every signal that 
shall be made on board here for your government, as well 
as to all future orders that you may from time to time re- 
ceive from me. To prevent separation or surprise, you are 
t^o endeavour always to keep in your station ; and you are 



* 



m' 



102 



never to chase so as to lose company with the squadron. 
I place great dependance on your zeal for the honor of the 
American flag, and the interests of our common cause, as well 
as your abihties and inclination to support me in my duty; 
which I hope you will very soon have occasion to manifest, 
so as to afford me the supreme pleasure of rendering jus- 
tice to your merit in the account which I shall faithfully 
transmit both to our great ally, his Most Christian Majesty, 
and to the Senate o( America. Should you unfortunately 
be separated from the Bon homme Richard, you are to 
open the letter of rendezvous No. 1, and to proceed to that 
place as soon as possible, but if the squadron has previously 
passed that place, you are to open the letter No. 2 : and 
should you be taken, or in great danger of being taken, you 
are to burn, or otherwise effectually destroy, the letters of 
rendezvous. For all which, this shall be your order. 
Given on board the American ship of war, the Bon homme 
Richard, at anchor in the road of Groaix, August 
10th, 1779. 

On hoard the Bon homme Richard, at anchor \ 
in the road of Groaix, August 1 \th, 1779, S 

His Ex. Monsieur De Sartine. 
My Lord, 

The moment I returned from the late cruise to this 
road, I wrote the history of my proceedings to his excel- 
lency Dr. Franklin, and requested him to communicate the 
whole to you. I have also rendered to him an exact ac- 
count of every thing that has affected this ship, and every 
other vessel under my command, while at L'Orient; all 
which, I conclude, has been submitted to your inspection. 
1 am now, however, sorry that I did not address letters to your 
Excellency on the same subject, especially as Dr. Franklin 
has lately acquainted me that you were uneasy at some ac- 
counts of a mutinous disposition in my crew. I did not at 
the beginning advise it as a prudent measure, to take on 
board so great a proportion of English seamen. But M. de 
Chaumont can inform you that he thought it expedient, and 
that it would be attended with no risque, after tlie embarka- 
tion of the troops under the orders of the Marquis de la 
Fayette. When that expedition was laid aside, and I was 
forbidden to enlist French seamen, I had no means to re- 
place the English, and they remained on board from neces- 



m^ 



103 

sity, not from choice. When they saw that I had obsei*ved 
their mutinous disposition, and taken measures to prevent 
its bad consequences, I must do them the justice to say that 
they manifested a true martial spirit, when, being alone in 
this ship off Belle-Isle, in the evening of the 29th of June, 
I met with, and chased two large frigates that were in com- 
pany, and durst not wait for our approach, but fled not- 
withstanding their great superiority both in force and 
sailing. 

I have the satisfaction to assure your excellency that this 
second journey of M. de Chaumont was altogether unneces- 
sary ; as I had before his arrival at L'Orient sent officers 
to Nantes, to enlist Americans, and had also enlisted as 
many of the strangers as were willing to embark at L'Ori- 
ent. My crew now in this ship consists of 380 officers, 
men, and boys, inclusive of 1 37 marine soldiers. 

I expect to sail this evening, or to-morrow morning, and 
I hope the Monsieur will go in company. I have also 
reason to expect the Gen. Mifflin, having sent the Ven- 
geance to Belle-Isle, with a letter to the captain of that 
privateer, to invite him to join this little squadron. When 
I depart I hope to be able to do my duty, thereby to testify 
to his Majesty and to your excellency the high sense which 
1 shall ever entertain of the honorable attentions which have 
been shewn towards me in France ; and to prevent future 
misrepresentations, I will myself transmit to your excellency 
from time to time, an account of my proceedings and situa- 
tion. 

I am, with the highest sentiments of esteem and respect, 
My Lord, 

Your Excellency's very obliged, 
very obedient, 

and most humble servant. 

N. B. I have seen with surprise, various letters in the 
hands of persons here, on the subject of my destination ! 

Ship Bon honime Richard, at anchor in the } 
Road of Groaix, August 1 3th, 1779. 5 
The Hon. Major General, the Marquis ) 
de Lafayette, at Havre de Grace. > 
Although, my dear Marquis, I have not lately written to 
you, yet there is no man for whom I entertain a greater share 
of esteem and respect. By what I have felt myself since our 



expedition was laid aside, I can easily imagine how much 
concern it has given you ; and 1 assure you that 1 have met 
with few disappointments that has equally affected my sensi- 
bility and my health. As the object of our expedition was 
imprudently communicated to almost every person who should 
have been concerned in it, as well as to others who would not 
have been actors, I had determined for some time before I 
had the honor to receive yojrlast letter, to propose to you 
another project when we mecat L' Orient, which I am per- 
suaded you would have adopted, and communicated to no 
person until we had been ready the next hour to put it in 
execution. 

I am highly honored by your expressing hopes that such an 
expedition between us will yet take place in the course of 
this war. I ardently join you in that wish, and assure you 
that (ew prospects could afford me equal pleasure, or more 
entirely gratify my ambition. I will write to you, my dear 
Marquis, and communicate my thoughts when the subject is 
of consequence, agreeable to the within dictionary. I ex- 
pect to sail this evening, and you will perhaps hear of me 
soon. I was happy in the acquaintance of your two Aids- 
de-Camp ; and I thank you, with reason, that I now have the 
company and assistance of Messrs. Weibert and Chamil- 
lard. 

I am happy in being ranked among the number of your 
friends, and shall ever endeavour to merit your regard, being^ 
always my dear Marquis, 

Your most obliged, 

and very obedient 
humble servant. 

Washington city, Feb. 1825. 

True copy to the best of my remembrance, 

Lafayette: 

Ship Bon homme Richard, at anchor in ) 
the Road of Groaix, August I3th, 1779. 5 
His Excellency Benjamin Franklin. 

Honored and Dear Sir, 
It is but this moment, that the Court Martial has finished 
the affair of the Bon homme Richard and the Alliance, on 
account of their having run foul of each other. I enclose 
you the result of the proceedings of that court, which being 
the only one of consequence, it is minecessary to trouble yorn 



iy 



with bundles of papers where the conclusions liavc only 
amounted to whipping, which has been executed. 

The within paper respecting the prize money of this httle 
squadron is submitted to your regulations, and from the en- 
closed paper, addressed to me by the captain and officers of 
the Vengeance I am persuaded that you will think it un- 
reasonable, that he, (the captain,) should share equally with 
Captain Landais, or the captain of the Pallas, — and not 
ratlier that each ship and vessel should first share in pro- 
portion to the number and calibre of her guns, and the num- 
ber of her men ; — and that they should afterward divide 
their respective shares by the laws of their flag, or other- 
wise to their mutual satisfaction. The within state of the 
force of each ship and vessel, will be useful in forming your 
decisions. 

M. de Chaumont has made an useless journey here, as I 
had taken all the necessary measures to engage the men that 
were wanting before his appearance, even at Nantes. I am, 
however, much obliged to him and to the minister for that at- 
tention, as well as for all former favors. I shall certainly sail 
to-morrow at day break, and I hope shortly to find opportu- 
nities to testify my gratitude to our great and good ally, for 
the honor which he has conferred on the American flag, and 
on myself. The enclosed dictionary will be useful, when I 
write to you on particular subjects. This little squadron ap- 
pears to be unanimous, and, if that good understanding con- 
tinues, we are able to perform essential service. I look for^. 
ward with pleasing expectation, and an ardent desire to 
merit your friendship, and that of America, being ever with 
the highest esteem and respect, 
Dear Sir, 

The most obliged of 

Your obedient servants. 

Ship Bon homme Richard, at sea off ) 
Ushant, August IStk, 1779, ^ 

M. Le Ray de Chaumont. 

I have my friend, the honor to forward this letter by our 

prize ship die Verwagting, bound from Barcelona to Dunkirk 

with a cargo of wine and brandy, and several cases of 

silks, &c. 

This prize was taken eight days ago, by the privateer 

O 



brig Eagle, belonging to Poole, in England, and is there* 
fore a lawful prize to the flag of the United States. 

We have met several other vessels, neutral property, but 
have learned no news except by one, a Portuguese snow, 
yesterday, that the English fleet had put back to Portsmouth, 
and that the snow passed through the French and Spanish 
fleet in number 114 ships, steering N. N. E., fifteen leagues 
south from Lizard. You will please to communicate this, 
with my respects to the minister, and to Dr. Franklin. 
1 have the honour to be, 

with great esteem and respect, your obliged 
friend and humble servant. 

P.'S. 1 enclose you a paper which the commander of the 
Monsieur has given, contrary to my orders, and without my 
knowledge or consent, to the person whom he appointed mas- 
ter of this prize, which was taken under my orders and in 
my sight, — yet he takes no notice of this in that paper, and 
probably was his intention to keep the whole as his own proper- 
ty. He has now left the squadron, after plundering this prize 
and detaining me 24 hours by his lagging behind the squadron. 
This is the result of being concerned with privateers, where 
good faith and honor are generally strangers. 

I certify that the original of the preceding letter was duly 
received by my father, from Com. John Paul Jones. 

Le Ray de Chaumont. 

JVezo- York, December 1 824. 

Bon Homme Richard, at Sea, off the S. W, \ 
of Ireland, August 2Ath, 1779. 5 

M. Le Rav de Chaumont. 
The enclosed copies of papers will shew you, my friend, 
that on the 1 8th I sent in a prize ship for L'Orient, laden 
with brandy, &c. ; and that on the 21st, I sent also for 
L'Orient a prize brig, laden with Irish beef and butter. I 
send this by the prize brig Fortune, bound for England from 
Newfoundland, and laden chiefly with oil, blubber, and 
staves. I have ordered this prize for Nantz, or if circum- 
stances will admit, for St. Malo, as the best market. I have 
.sent on board the prize a man who is perfectly acquainted 
with the coast between Brest and St. Malo, and will, in con- 
sequence, 1 hope, elude the Jersey privateers. By the cap- 
tain of the Mavflower I am told that there is now an en- 



.^ ^A- 



# 



campment of 30,000 troops in Ireland, at a place called 
Clonmell, about midway between Waterford and Limerick; 
I do not, however, credit this report. 

I beseech you to present my respects to M. de Sartinc 
and His Excellency M. Franklin, and apologize for my not 
writing them. It is now calm : when the breeze returns I 
shall embrace it to proceed directly to my destination. 
I am, with sentiments of esteem and respect, 

Your very obliged friend and servant. 

I certify that the original of the preceding was duly rcr 
ceived by my father, from Commodore J. Paul Jones. 

Le Ray de Chaumon't, 
.N'ew-York, December, 1824. 

On board the Ship of War the Serapis, at anchor \ 
■without the Texel, October 3d^ 1779. ) 

M« Le Ray de Chaumont, a Passy. 

The original of the enclosed copy of my last letter, writ 
ten on board the Bon homme Richard, off the S. W. coast 
of Ireland, the 24th of August, as well as the papers which 
preceded it, and to which it alludes, I hope duly reached 
the hands of my friend, M. de Chaumont, and explained to 
his satisfaction my conduct from the time I left Groaix until 
that date. For the full history of my expedition, I must 
beg leave to refer you to a letter of this date, which accom- 
panies this, to His Excellency Dr. Franklin, who will, if yot: 
demand it, furnish you with a copy. 

I wish to act a candid part towards all men, and there- 
fore wish you to have a copy of that letter, that you may 
see my sentiments respecting the "Concordat," which yoit 
imposed upon me in the moment of my departure from 
Groaix. What could have inspired you with such sentiment? 
of distrust towards me, after the ocular proofs of hospita- 
lity which I so long experienced in your house, and after the 
warm expressions of generous and unbounded friendship 
which I had constantly been honored with in your letters, 
exceeds my mental faculties to comprehend. I am, how- 
ever, yet wiUing to give you an opportunity of rendering 
justice to my character. I cannot think you are personally 
my enemy. I rather imagine that your conduct towards me 
at Ti'Orient. has arisen from the base misrepresentation of 



1U8 

some secret villany ; therefore, I am, with unaltered senti*- 
ments of good will and affection for yourself and family, 
My dear friend. 

Your obliged, humble servant. 

I certify that the original of the preceding letter was duly 
received by my father. 

Le Ray de Chaumont. 
New-York, December, 1824. 

Commodore Jones was now approaching the scene of his 
greatest glory, which, in other respects than the affair of the 
Serapis, would have been much more complete, had the 
captains of his squadron, and particularly Landais, of the 
frigate Alliance, cordially co-operated with him. In peru- 
sing the narrative of this cruize, which is from the pen of 
Jones himself, the reader will observe that he had designed 
to lay the town of Leith under contribution, which intended 
enterprise would in all probability have succeeded, had the 
winds not have been adverse ; and even with that hinder* 
ance, under the energetic direction of Commodore Jones, it 
might perhaps have been effected. He had prepared every 
thing for the purpose, and assigned to each vessel of his 
squadron its appropriate duty. The landing was to have 
been made by Lieut. Col. Chamillard, with one hundred 
and thirty men, furnished with a white and a red flag, the 
display of the former of which was to be the signal that 
the inhabitants submitted to the terms proposed by the com- 
modore, and of tho latter, that they had refused. The dis- 
play of both flags together, was to indicate that the party 
under Chamillard was compelled to retreat ; in which case, 
their re-embarkation was to have been coverect by the ships 
of war. A contribution of 100,000/. sterling was to have 
been levied upon Leith, the payment of 50,000/. of which 
was to have been insisted on instantly, and hostages from 
among the principal inhabitants taken for the speedy pay- 
ment of the remaining moiety. The undertaking failed 
from the causes described by Jones ; but the summons writ- 
ten for the occasion, will serve to shew the humanity with 
which he proceeded, and it is therefore presented for peru- 
sal, together with the terms of capitulation, both documents, 
in blank, having been found among the papers of Jones, now 
in the possession of the author of this volume. It will bt; 




yemarked that Commodore Jones, in this, as in every other 
instance, ascribed the severity of his operations to the out- 
rages committed by the British troops in America ; thus 
giving to his actions a national, and not a vindictively per- 
sonal complexion. It will be seen in the sequel, that Dr. 
Franklin himself justified these retaliatory measures, and 
almost regretted the mildness of the instructions which he 
had previously addressed to the commodore for the govern- 
ment of his conduct towards the enemy, so deeply was that 
venerable man atiected by the atrocities of the English sol- 
diers, hi no particular did Jones transcend these instruc- 
tions, but seems, in every situation, to have endeavoured to 
assuage the miseries of war by the kindest possible treatment 
to his prisoners. 

The Honorable Captain Jones, Commander in Chief of 

the American squadron now in Europe, on board the 

American ship of war the Bon homme Richard, at 

anchor in the Road of Leith, September the — r-, 

1779. 

To the Worshipful the Provost of Leith, or, in his absence, 

to the Chief Magistrate who is now actually present and 

in authority there. 

Sir, 
The British marine force that has been stationed here for 
the protection of your city and commerce, being now taken 
by the American arms under my command, I have the honor 
to send you this by my officer, Lieutenant Colonel de Cha- 
millard, who commands the vanguard of my troops. I do 
not wish to distress the poor inhabitants ; my intention is 
only to demand your contribution towards the reimburse- 
ment which Britain owes to the much injured citizens of 
America. Savages would blush at the unmanly violation 
and rapacity that has marked the tracks of British tyranny 
in America, from which neither virgin innocence nor help- 
less age has been a plea of protection or pity. 

Leith and its port now lays at our mercy ; and did not 
the plea of humanity stay the hand of just retaliation, I 
should, without advertisement, lay it in ashes. Before 1 pro- 
ceed to that stern duty as an officer, my duty as a ?nan in- 
<iuces me to propose to you, by the means of a reasonable 



•#■■ 



no 

iiinsom, 10 prevent such a scene of horror and distress. — 
For this reason I have authorized Lieut. Col. de Charnillard 
to conclude and agree with you on the terms of ransom, 
allowing you exactly half an hour's reflection before you 
finally accept or reject the terms which he shall propose. 

If you accept the terms offered within the time limited, 
you may rest assured that no farther debarkation of troops 
will be made, but that the re-embarkation of the vanguard 
will immediately follow, and that the property of the citi- 
zens shall remain unmolested. 

I have the honor to be, &c. 

CAPITULATION. 
We the subscribers, the Provost, Recorder, and principal 
Magistrates of the city or corporation of Leith in Scot- 
land, promise and swear in honor and good faith, agreeable 
to the laws of war, according to which we submit to the 
honorable Captain Jones, Commander in chief of an Ame- 
rican squadron now in Europe, to perform faithfully the 
articles of the present capitulation. 

Art. ist. There shall not be any act of hostility com- 
mitted against any ship or vessel, or against any person what- 
soever that is belonging to the American squadron under the 
command of Captain Jones, either by the inhabitants of 
Leith, by regular or irregular troops, or by any person, or 
persons whatsoever during the term which he may be com- 
pelled by contrary winds, or other insuperable causes to re- 
main with his squadron, within the Firth of Forth. 

Art. 2d. In case of any contravention, or breach of this 
capitulation on our part, it is agreed that the Commander 
in chief of the American squadron aforesaid, shall use vigo- 
rous measures towards the subjects of his Britannic Majesty 
who are in his hands, either as prisoners, or hostages ; and 
the Magistrates, and principal inhabitants of Leith agree to 
submit themselves exactly to this article. 

Art. 3d. As soon as the terms of ransom are fulfilled on 
tlie part of the Magistrates of Leith, Captain Jones shall 
embrace the first fair wind and depart with his squadron 
from Leith, without molesting the inhabitants. 

Done at Leith this day of September, 1 779. 

Nothing can be more characteristic of the determined re- 
solution of Commodore Jones to obtain the obiect on which 



ill 

he was once bent, than his perseverance in remaniuig on his 
cruizing ground ofl' the enemy's coast, in defiance of the sin- 
gular behaviour of Captain Landais and the lukewarmness 
of the other commanding officers in the squadron. The for- 
tunate issue of every enterprise of the sort depends mainly 
upon the spirit and harmony that prevail among those who 
have been appointed to act in concert, and, at the same time, 
in subordination. The deportment of Captain Landais 
throughout the engagement with the Serapis was well calcu- 
lated to give the victory to the British flag ; and there is good 
ground for believing that it was, from envy or jealousy, in 
the contemplation of Landais to tear the laurels from the 
brow of Jones, or to subject him to disgrace, by allowingthe 
Bon homme Richard, and Serapis, in their close encounter, 
so to disable each other, that keeping the Alliance unin- 
jured, in the event of the Bon homme Richard's striking her 
colors to her antagonist. Captain Landais might have made 
prizes of both ships, and, returning victorious to France, 
have figured as the principal hero of the bloody combat. 
Certain it is, that he manoeuvred so as to cripple the Bon 
homme Richard, and actually shed the blood of some of the 
valiant crew. The fact does not admit of dispute. It is 
estabhshed by the testimony of those who witnessed his ma- 
noeuvres, and who. it will be found in the subsequent pages, 
specifically verify all the allegations made by Commodore 
Jones against Landais. Such a mass of evidence is irresis- 
tible, and leaves nothing to reflecting minds but regret that 
the bad passions of the human heart, unrestrained by reason, 
should, at a critical moment, have had such influence over 
a naval ofiicer, honored with a commission from the Ameri- 
can Congress, as to have rendered the triumph of the flag of 
the United States dubious for several hours. Had Captain 
Landais employed himself in capturing and destroying the 
ships of the Baltic fleet, whilst Jones was engaged with the 
Serapis, it can scarcely be considered as doubtful that very 
few of them would have escaped. 

On board the ship Serapis, at anchor without } 
the Texel^in Holland, October 3d, 1779. y 
His Excellency Benjamin Franklin. 
Honored and Dear Sir, 

When I had the honor of writing to you on the 1 1 th oi 
August, previous to my departure from the Road of Groaix, 1 






i 1 2 

had before me the most flattering prospect of rendering es- 
sential service to the common cause of France and Ame- 
rica. I had a full confidence in the voluntary inclination and 
ability of every captain under my command, to assist and 
support me in my duty with cheerful emulation ; and I was 
persuaded that every one of them would pursue glory in 
preference to interest. 

Whether I was, or was not deceived, will best appear 
by a relation of circumstances. 

The little squadron under my orders, consisting of the 
Bon homme Richard, of 40 guns ; the Alliance, of 36 guns ; 
the Pallas, of 32 guns ; the Cerf, of 1 8 guns ; and the Ven- 
geance, of 12 guns ; joined by two privateers, the Monsieur 
and the Granville, sailed from the Road of Groaix at day- 
break on the 14th of August ; the same day we spoke with 
a large convoy bound from the southward to Brest. 

On the 18th we retook a large ship belonging to Holland, 
laden chiefly with brandy and wine that had been destined 
from Barcelona for Dunkirk, and taken eight days before by 
an English privateer. The captain of the Monsieur, how- 
ever, took out of this prize such articles as he pleased in 
the night, and the next day being astern of the squadron, 
and to windward, he actually wrote orders in his proper 
name, and sent away the prize under one of his own offi- 
cers. This, however, I superseded by sending her for 
L'Orient under my orders, in the character of commander 
in chief. The evening of the day following, the Monsieur 
separated from the squadron. 

On the 20th we saw and chased a large ship, but could 
not overtake her, she being to windward. 

On the 21st we saw and chased another ship that was also 
to windward, and thereby eluded our pursuit. The same 
afternoon, we took a brigantine called the Mayflower, laden 
with butter and salt provisions, bound from Limerick in 
Ireland for London ; this vessel I immediately expedited for 
L'Orient. 

On the 23d, we saw Cape Clear and the S. W. part of 
Ireland. That afternoon, it being calm, I sent some armed 
boats to take a brigantine that appeared in the N. W. quar- 
ter. Soon after in the evening, it became necessary to have 
a boat ahead of the ship to tow, as the helm could not pre- 
vent her from laying across the tide of flood, which would 
have driven us into a deep and dangerous bay, situated be- 



I 1 3 

tween tlie rocks on the south called the Skallocks, and on 
the north called the Blaskets. The ship's boats being ab- 
sent, I sent my own barge ahead to tow the ship. The 
boats took the briganline ; she was called the Fortuned and 
bound with a cargo of oil, blubber and staves, from New- 
foundland for Bristol ; this vessel I ordered to proceed im- 
mediately for Nantes or St. Malo. Soon after sunset the 
villains who towed the ship, cut the tow rope and decamped 
with my barge. Sundry shots were fired to bring them too 
without effect, in the mean tim,e the master of the Bon 
homme Richard, without orders, manned one of the sliip-s 
boats, and with four soldiers pursued the barge in order to 
stop the deserters. The evening was clear and serene, but 
the zeal of that officer|#Ir. Cutting Lunt, induced him to 
pursue too far, and a fog which came on soon afterward 
prevented the boats from rejoining the ship, although I 
caused signal guns to be frequently fired. The fog and 
calm continued the next day till towards evening. In the 
afternoon Captain Landais came on board the Bon homme 
Richard and behaved towards me with great disrespect, 
affirming in the most indelicate manner and language, that 
I had lost my boats and people through my imprudence 
in sending boats to take a prize ! He persisted in his re^ 
proaches, though he was assured by Messrs. De Weibert and 
De Chamillard, that the barge was towing the ship at the 
time of elopement, and that she had not been sent in pur- 
suit of the prize. He was affronted, because I would not 
the day before suffer him to chase without my orders, and 
to approach the dangerous shore I have already mentioned, 
where he was an entire stranger, and when there was not 
sufficient wind to govern a ship. He told me he was the 
only American in the squadron, and was determined to 
follow his own opinion in chasing when and vi^here he 
thought proper, and in every other matter that concerned 
the service, and that if I continued in that situation three 
days longer, the squadron would be taken, &;c. By the ad- 
vice of Captain De Cottineau, and with the free consent 
and approbation of M. De Varage, I sent the Cerf in to re- 
connoitre the coast, and endeavour to take the boats and 
people, the next day, while the squadron stood off and on 
in the S. W. quarter, in the best possible situation to inter- 
cept the enemy's merchant ships, whether outward or home- 
ward bound. The Cerf had on board a pilot well acquaint* 

F 



1 1 .] 

cd with the coast, and Avas ordered to join me again belore 
night. I approached the shore in the afternoon, but the 
Cerf did not appear ; this induced me to stand off again in 
the night in order to return and be rejoined by the Cerf the 
next day ; but to my great concern and disappointment, 
though I ranged the coast along and hoisted our private 
signals, neither the boats nor the Cerf joined me. The eve- 
ning of that day, the 26th, brought with it stormy weather, 
with an appearance of a severe gale from the S. W., yet I 
must declare I did not follow my own judgment, but was 
Jed by the assertion which had fallen from Captain Lan- 
dais, when I in the evening made a signal to steer to the 
northward and leave that station, which 1 wished to have 
occupied at least a week longer. The gale increased in the 
night with thick weather ; to prevent separation, I carried 
a top light and fired a gun every quarter of an hour. I car- 
ried, also, a very moderate sail, and the course had been 
clearly pointed out by a signal before night ; yet with all 
this precaution, I found myself accompanied only by the 
brigantine Vengeance in the morning, the Granville having 
remained astern with a prize ; as I have since understood 
the tiller of the Pallas broke after midnight, which disa- 
bled her from keeping up, but no apology has yet been made 
in behalf of the Alliance. 

On the 31st, we saw the Flamie Islands situated near the 
Lewis, on the N. W. coast of Scotland 5 and the next 
morning, off Cape Wi-ath, we gave chase to a ship to wind- 
ward, at the same time two ships appearing in the N. W. 
quarter, which proved to be the Alliance and a prize ship 
which she had taken, bound, as I understood, from Liver- 
pool to Jamaica. The ship which I chased brought too at 
noon ; she proved to be the Union letter of Marque, bound 
from London for Quebec, with a cargo of naval stores on 
account of government, adapted for the service of the Bri- 
tish armed vessels on the lakes. The public despatches 
were lost, as the Alliance very imprudently hoisted Ameri- 
can colors, though English colors were then flying on 
board the Bon hommc Richard. Captain Landais sent a 
small boat to ask whether I would man the ship or he 
should, as in the latter case he would suffer no boat nor per- 
son from the Bon homme Richard to go near the prize. 
Ridiculous as this appeared to me, I yielded to it for the 
sake of peace, and received the prisoners on board the Bon 



; 

"W 



U.J 

liomme Richard, wliile the prize was manned trom the Al- 
liance. In the afternoon another sail appeared, and 1 im- 
mediately made the signal for the Alliance to chase ; but 
instead of obeying, he wore and laid the ship's head the 
other way. The next morning I made a signal to speak 
with the Alliance, to which no attention was shown ; I then 
made sail with the ships in company, for the second rendez- 
vous, which was not far distant, and where I fully expected 
to be joined by the Pallas and the Cerf. 

The second of September we saw a sail at daybreak, and 
gave chase ; that ship proved to be the Pallas, and had met 
with no success while separated from the Bon homme Ri~ 
chard. 

On the 3d the Vengeance brought too a small Irish bri- 
gantine, bound homeward from Norway. The same eve- 
ning I sent the Vengeance in the N. E. quarter to bring up 
the two prize ships that appeared to me to be too near the 
islands of Shetland. While with the Alliance and Pallas, 
I endeavoured to weather Fair Isle, and to get into my 
second rendezvous, where I directed the Vengeance to join 
me with the three prizes. The next morning, having wea- 
thered Fair Isle, and not seeing the Vengeance nor the 
prizes, I spoke the Alliance and ordered her to steer to the 
northward and bring them up to the rendezvous. 

On the morning of the 4th the Alliance appeared again, 
and had brought too two very small coasting sloops in bal- 
last, but without having attended properly to my orders of 
yesterday. The Vengeance joined me soon after, and in- 
formed me that in consequence of Captain Landais' orders 
to the commanders of the two prize ships, they bad refused 
to follow him to the rendezvous. 1 am to this moment 
ignorant of what orders these men received from Captain 
Landais, nor know I by virtue of what authority he ventu- 
red to give his orders to prizes in my presence and without 
either my knowledge or approbation. Captain Ricot fur- 
ther informed me that he had burnt the prize brigantine, be- 
cause that vessel proved leaky ; and I was sorry to under- 
stand afterward that though the vessel was Irish property, 
the cargo was property of the subjects of Norway. 

In the evening I sent for all the captains to come on board 
the Bon homme Richard, to consult on future plans of ope- 
ration. Captains Cottineau and Ricot obeyed me, but Cap- 
tain Landais obstinately refused, and after sending me van- 



•*• 



# 



■m 



• 



lit; 

ous uncivil messages, wrote me a very extraordinary letter 
in answer to a written order, which I had sent him, on find- 
ing that he had trifled with my verbal orders. The next 
day a pilot boat came on board from Shetland, by which 
means I received such advices as induced me to change a 
plan which I otherwise meant to have pursued; and as the 
Cerf did not appear at my second rendezvous, I determined 
to steer towards the third in hopes of meeting her there. 

In the aftfernoon a gale of wind came on, which continued 
four days without intermission. In the second night of that 
gale, the Alliance, with her two little prizes, again separa- 
ted from the Bon homme Richard. I had now with me 
only the Pallas and the Vengeance, yet I did not abandon 
the hopes of performing some essential service. The winds 
continued contrary, so that we did not see the land till the 
evening of the 1 3th, when the hills of the Cheviot in the 
S. E. of Scotland appeared. The next day we chased sun- 
dry vessels and took a ship and a brigantine, both from the 
Firth of Edinburgh, laden with coal. Knowing that there 
lay at anchor in Leith road an armed ship of 20 guns, with 
two or three fine cutters, I formed an expedition against 
Leith, which I purposed to lay under a large contribution, 
or otherwise to reduce it to ashes. Had I been alone, the 
wind being favorable, I would have proceeded directly up 
the Firth, and must have succeeded as they lay there in a 
state of perfect indolence and security, which would have 
proved their ruin. Unfortunately for me, the Pallas and 
Vengeance were both at a considerable distance in the 
offing ; they having chased to the southward ; this obliged 
us to steer out of the Firth again to meet them. The Cap- 
tains of the Pallas and Vengeance being come on board the 
Bon homme Richard, I communicated to them my project, 
to which many difficulties and objections were made by 
them ; at last, however, they appeared to think better of 
the design after I had assured them that I hoped to raise a 
contribution of 200,000 pounds sterhng on Leith, and that 
there was no battery of cannon there to oppo&e our landing. 
So much time, however, was unavoidably spent in pointed 
remarks and sage deliberation that night, that the wind be- 
came contrary in the morning. 

We continued working to windward up the Firth without 
being able to reach the road of Leith, till on the morning 
of (he 17lh, when being almost within cannon shot of the 






town, having every thing in readiness for a descent, a very 
severe gale of wind came on, and being directly contrary, 
bbhged us to bear away, after having in vain endeavoured 
for some time to withstand its violence. The gale was so 
severe, that one of the prizes that had been taken on the 
14th sunk to the bottom, the crew being with difficulty sa- 
ved. As the alarm by this time had reached Leith by means 
of a cutter that had watched our motions that morning, and 
as the wind continued contrary, (though more moderate in 
the evening) I thought it impossible to pursue the enterprise 
with a good prospect of success ; especially as Edinburg, 
where there is always a number of troops, is only a mile 
distant from Leith, therefore I gave up the project. 

On the 19th, having taken a sloop and a brigantine in bal- 
last, with a sloop laden with building timber, 1 proposed an- 
other project to Mr. Cottineau, which would have been high- 
ly honorable though not profitable ; many difficulties were 
made, and our situation was represented as being the most 
perilous. The enemy, he said, would send against us a su- 
perior force, and that if I obstinately continued on the coast 
of England two days longer, we should all be taken. The 
Vengeance having chased along shore to the southward, 
Captain Cottineau said he would follow her with the prizes, 
as I was unable to make much sail, having that day been 
obliged to strike the main-top-mast to repair damages ; and 
as I afterward understood, he told M. De Chamillard 
that unless I joined them the next day, both the Pallas and 
the Vengeance would leave that coast. I had thoughts of 
attempting the enterprise alone after the Pallas had made 
sail to join the Vengeance. I am persuaded even now, that 
I would have succeeded, and to the honor of my young 
officers, I found them as ardently disposed to the business 
as I could desire ; nothing prevented me from pursuing my 
design but the reproach that would have been cast upon 
my character, as a man of prudence, had the enterprise 
miscarried. It would have been said, was he not forewarn- 
ed by Captain Cottineau and others ? 

I made sail along shore to the southward, and next mor- 
ning took a coasting sloop in ballast, which with another 
that I had taken the night before, I ordered to be sunk. In 
the evening, I again met with the Pallas and Vengeance off 
Whitby. Captain Cottineau told me he had sunk the bri- 
gantine, and ransomed the sloop, laden with building tim- 



#»» 



nil 

l>er tliat liad been taken the day before. I had told Captain 
Cottineau the day before, that 1 had no authority to ransora 
prizes. 

On the 21st we saw and chased two sail, off Flamborough 
Head, the Pallas in the N. E. quarter, while the Bon homme 
Richard followed by the Vengeance in the S. W. the one I 
chased, a brigantine collier in ballast belonging to Scarbo- 
rough was soon taken, and sunk immediately afterward, as a 
fleet then appeared to the southward : it was so late in the day 
that I could not come up with the fleet before night, at length, 
however, I got so near one of them, as to force her to run 
ashore, between Flamborough Head and the Spurn. Soon after 
I took another, a brigantine from Holland belonging to Sunder- 
land ; and at daylight the next morning, 'seeing a fleet steer- 
ing towards me from the Spurn, I imagined them to be a con- 
voy, bound from London for Leith, which had been for 
some time expected, one of them had a pendant hoisted, 
and appeared to be a ship of force, they had not, however, 
courage to come on, but kept back, all except the one 
which seemed to be armed, and that one also kept to wind- 
ward very near the land, and on the edge of dangerous 
shoals where I could not with safety approach. This in- 
duced me to make a signal for a pilot, and soon afterward 
two pilot boats came off; they informed me that the ship 
that wore a pendant was an armed merchant ship, and that 
a king's frigate lay there in sight, at anchor within the 
Humber, waiting to take under convoy a number of mer- 
chant ships bound to the northward. The pilots imagined 
the Bon homme Richard to be an English ship of war, and 
consequently, communicated to me the private signal which 
they had been required to make. I endeavoured by this 
means to decoy the ships out of the port, but the wind then 
changing, and with the tide becoming unfavorable for them, 
the deception had not the desired effect, and they wisely 
put back. The entrance of the Humber is exceedingly 
diflicult and dangerous, and as the Pallas was not in sight, I 
thought it not prudent to remain off the entrance ; I there- 
fore steered out again to join the Pallas off' Flamborough 
Head. In the night we saw and chased two ships, until 3 
o'clock in the morning, when being at a very small distance 
from them, I made the private signal of recognizance, which 
I had given to each captain before I sailed from Groaix, one 
half of the answer only was returned. In this position both 



di^--- 



Uii 

sides lay too till daylight, when the ships proved to be the 
Alliance and the Pallas. 

On the morning of that day, the 23d, the brig from Hol- 
land not being in sight, we chased a brigantine that appear- 
ed laying too to windward. About noon we saw and 
chased a large ship that appeared coming round Flam- 
borough Head, from the northward, and at the same time I 
manned and armed one of the pilot boats to sail in pur- 
suit of the brigantine, which now appeared to be the vessel 
that I had forced ashore. Soon after this a fleet of 41 sail 
appeared off Flamborough Head, bearing N. N. E. ; this in- 
duced me to abandon the single ship which had then anchor- 
ed in Burlington Bay ; I also called back the pilot boat and 
hoisted a signal for a general chase. When the fleet dis- 
covered us bearing down, all the merchant ships crowded 
sail towards the shore. The two ships of war that protect- 
ed the fleet, at the same time steered from the land, and 
made the disposition for the battle : in approaching the ene- 
my I crowded every possible sail, and made the signal for 
the line of battle, to which the Alliance showed no atten- 
tion. Earnest as 1 was for the action, I could not reach the 
commodore's ship until seven in the evening, being then 
within pistol shot, when he hailed the Bon homme Richard, 
we answered him by firing a whole broadside. 

The battle being thus begun, was continued with unre- 
mitting fury. Every method was practised on both sides to 
gain an advantage, and rake each other ; and I must con- 
fess-that the enemy's ship being much more manageable than 
the Bon homme Richard, gained thereby several times an 
advantageous situation, in spite of my best endeavours to 
prevent it. As I had to deal with an enemy of greatly su- 
perior force, I was under the necessity of closing with him, 
to prevent the advantage which he had over me in point of 
manoeuvre. It was my intention to lay the Bon homme 
Richard athwart the enemy's bow, but as that operation 
required great dexterity in the management of both sails and 
helm, and some of our braces being shot away, it did not 
exactly succeed to my wishes ; the enemy's bowsprit, how- 
ever, came over the Bon homme Richard's poop by the 
mizen mast, and I made both ships fast together in that 
situation, which by the action of the wind on the enemy's 
sails, forced her stern close to tlie Bon homme Ri- 
chard's bow. so that the ships lay square along side of 




f^;uch other, the yards being all entangled, and the cannon 
of each ship touching the opponent's side. When this posi- 

, tion took place it was 8 o'clock, previous to which the 

Bon homme Richard had received sundry eighteen pounds 
shot below the water, and leaked very much. My battery 
of 12 pounders, on which I had placed my chief depen- 
dance, being commanded by Lieut. Dale and Col. Weibert, 
and manned principally with American seamen, and French 
volunteers, were entirely silenced and abandoned. As to 
the six old eighteen pounders that formed the battery of the 
lower gun-deck, they did no service whatever ; two out of 
three of them burst at the first fire, and killed almost all the 
men who were stationed to manage them. Before this 
time too. Col. De Chamillard, who commanded a party of 20 
soldiers on the poop had abandoned that station, after hav- 
ing lost some of his men. These men deserted their quar- 
ters. 1 had now only two pieces of cannon, nine pounders, 
on the quarter deck that were not silenced, and not one 

W of the heavier cannon was fired during the rest of the action. 

^ The purser, Mr. Mease, who commanded the guns on the 

quarter deck, being dangerously wounded in the head, I 
was obliged to fill his place, and with great difiiculty rallied 
a few men, and shifted over one of the lee quarter-deck 
^ guns, so that we afterward played three pieces of 9 pounders 

upon the enemy. The tops alone seconded the fire of this 
little battery, and held out bravely during the whole of the 
action ; especially the main top, where Lieut. Stack com- 
manded. I directed the fire of one of the three cannon 
against the main-mast, with double-headed shot, while the 
other two were exceedingly well served with grape and 
cannister shot to silence the enemy's musketry, and clear 
her decks, which was at last effected. The enemy were, ' 
as I have since understood, on the instant of calling for 
quarters, when the cowardice or treachery of three of my 
under officers induced them to call to the enemy. The 
English commodore asked me if I demanded quarters, and 
I having answered him in the most determined negative, 
they renewed the battle with double fury ; they were un- 
able to stand the deck, but the fire of their cannon, espe- 
cially the lower battery, which was entirely formed of 18 
pounders, was incessant. Both ships were set on fire in 
various places, and the scene was dreadful beyond the reach 
of language. To account for the timidity of my three un- 




121 

der officers, I mean the gunner, the carpenter, and the mas- 
ter-at-arms, I must observe tliat the two first were slightly 
wounded, and as the ship had received various shots under 
^Vater, and one of the pumps being shot away, the carpen- 
ter expressed his fear that she would sink, and the other 
two concluded that she was sinking ; which occasioned the 
gunner to run aft on the poop without my knowledge, to 
strike the colors ; fortunately for me, a cannon ball had 
done that before, by carrying away the ensign staff: he was 
therefore reduced to the necessity of sinking, as he sup- 
posed, or of calling for quarter, and he preferred the latter. 

All this time the Bon homme Richard had sustained the 
action alone, and the enemy, though much superior in force, 
would have been very glad to have got clear, as appears by 
their own acknowledgements, and by their having let go an 
anchor the instant that I laid them on board, by which 
means they would have escaped had I not made them well 
fast to the Bon homme Richard. 

At last, at half past 9 o'clock, the Alliance appeared, and 
I now thought the battle at an end ; but, to my utter asto- 
nishment, he discharged a broadside full into the stern of 
the Bon homme Richard. We called to him for God's sake 
to forbear firing into the Bon homme Richard ; yet he pass- 
ed along the off side of the ship and continued firing. There 
was no possibility of his mistaking the enemy's ship for the 
Bon homme Richard, there being the most essential differ- 
ence in their appearance and construction ; besides, it was 
then full moon light, and the sides of the Bon homme Ri- 
chard were all black, while the sides of the prizes were yel- 
low ; yet, for the greater security, I shewe4 the signal of our 
reconnoissance, by putting out three lanthorns, one at the 
head, (bow,) another at the stern, (quarter,) and the third 
in the middle, in a horizontal line. Every tongue cried 
that he was firing into the wrong ship, but nothing availed ; 
he passed round, firing into the Bon homme Richard's head, 
stern, and broadside, and by one of his voUies killed several 
of my best men, and mortally wounded a good officer on 
the forecastle. My situation was really deplorable. The 
Bon homme Richard received various shot under water 
from the Alliance ; the leak gained on the pumps, and the 
fire increased much on board both ships. Some officers 
persuaded me to strike, of whose courage and good sense I 
entertain a high opinion. My treacherous raaster-at-arjKs' 

Q 



Tet loose ail my prisoners without my knowledge, and my 
prospect became gloomy indeed. I would not, however, 
give up the point. The enemy's main-mast began to shake, 
their firing decreased, ours rather increased, and the British 
colors were struck at half an hour past 10 o'clock. 

This prize proved to be the British ship of war the Sera- 
pis, a new ship of 44 guns, built on their most approved 
construction, with two complete batteries, one of them of 
1 8 pounders, and commanded by the brave Commodore Ri- 
chard Pearson. I had yet two enemies to encounter far 
more formidable than the Britons ; I mean fire and water. 
The Serapis was attacked only by the first, but the Bon 
homme Richard was assailed by both t there were five feet 
water in the hold, and though it was moderate from the ex- 
plosion of so much gunpowder, yet the three pumps that 
remained could with difficulty only keep the water from 
gaining. The fire broke out in various parts of the ship, in 
spite of all the water that could be thrown to quench it, and 
at length broke out as low as the powder magazine, and 
within a few inches of the powder. In that dilemma, 1 took 
eut the powder upon deck, ready to be thrown overboard 
at the last extremity, and it was 1 o'clock the next day, 
tlie 24th, before the fire was entirely extinguished. With 
pespect to the situation of the Bon homme Richard, the rud- 
der was cut entirely off the stern frame, and the transums 
were almost entirely cut away ; the timbers, by the lower 
deck especially, from the main-mast to the stern, being great- 
ly decayed with age, were mangled beyond my power of de- 
scription, and a person must have been an eye-witness to 
form a just idea of the tremendous scene of carnage, wreck, 
and ruin, that every where appeared. Humanity cannot but 
recoil from the prospect of such finished horror, and lament 
that war should produce such fatal consequences. 

After the carpenters, as well as Capt. de Cottineau, and 
other men of sense, had well examined and surveyed the 
ship, (which was not finished before five in the evening,) I 
I'ound every person to be convinced that it was impossible 
to keep the Bon homme Richard afloat so as to reach a port 
it the wind should increase, it being then only a very mode- 
rate breeze. I had but little time to remove my wounded, 
which now became unavoidable, and which was effected in 
the course of the night and next morning. I was determi- 
ned to keep the Bon homme Richard afloat, and. if possiblo. 



to bring her into port. For that purpose, the tirst iieuten* 
ant of the Pallas continued on board, with a party of men 
to attend the pumps, with boats in waiting ready to take 
them on board, in case the water should gain on them too 
fast. The wind augmented in the night and the next day, 
on the 25th, so that it was impossible to prevent the gooei 
old ship from sinking. They did not abandon her till aftei' 
9 o'clock : the water was then up to the lower deck 5 and a 
little after ten, I saw with inexpressible grief the last glimpsf 
of the Bon homme Richard. No lives were lost with the 
ship, but it was impossible to save the stores of any sort 
whatever. I lost even the best part of my clothes, books, 
and papers ; and several of my officers lost all their clothe? 
and effects. 

Having thus endeavoured to give a clear and simple rela- 
tion of the circumstances and events that have attended the 
little armament under my command, I shall freely submit 
my conduct therein to the censure of my superiors and the 
impartial pubUc. I beg leave, however, to observe, that 
the force that was put under my command was far from 
being well composed ; and as the great majority of the act- 
ors in it have appeared bent on the pursuit of interest only, 
I am exceedingly sorry that they and I have been at all con- 
cerned. I am in the highest degree sensible of the singular 
attentions which I have experienced from the Court of 
France, which I shall remember with perfect gratitude until 
the end of my life, and will always endeavour to merit, while 
I can, consistent with my honor, continue in the public ser- 
vice. I must speak plainly. As I have been always ho- 
nored with the full confidence of Congress, and as 1 also 
flattered myself with enjoying in some measure the confi- 
dence of the Court of France, I could not but be astonished 
at the conduct of M. de Chaumont, when, in the moment 
of my departure from Groaix, he produced a paper, a con- 
cordat, for me to sign, in common with the officers whom i 
liad commissioned but a few days before. Had that paper, 
or even a less dishonorable one, been proposed to me at the 
beginning, I would have rejected it with just contempt, and 
the word deplacement among others should have been neces- 
sary. I cannot, however, even now suppose that he was 
authorized by the Court to make such a bargain with me ; 
nor can I suppose that the minister of the marine meant thai; 
M. de Chaumont should cx)nsider me merely as a rolle^?^ 



with the coiniuanders ol' the other ships, and communicate 
to them not only all he knew, but all he thought, respecting 
our destination and operations. M. de Chaumont has made 
me various reproaches on account of the expense of the Bon 
homme Richard, wherewith I cannot think 1 have been justly 
chargfeable. M. de Chamillard can attest that the Bon 
homme Richard was at last far from being well fitted or 
armed for war. If any person or persons who have been 
charged with the expense of that armament have acted 
wrong, the fault must not be laid to my charge. I had no 
authority to superintend that armament, and the persons who 
had authority were so far from giving jne what I thought 
necessary, that M. de Chaumont even refused, among other 
things, to allow me irons for securing the prisoners of war. 

In short, while my life remains, if I have any capacity to 
render good and acceptable services to the common cause, 
no man will step forth with greater cheerfulness and alacrity 
than myself, but I am not made to be dishonored, nor can I 
accept of the half conjidence of any man hving ; of course 
I cannot, consistent with my honor and a prospect of suc- 
cess, undertake future expeditions, unless when the object 
and destination is communicated to me alone, and to no 
other person in the marine line. In cases where troops are 
embarked, a like confidence is due alone to their commander 
in chief. On no other condition will I ever undertake the 
chief command of a private expedition ; and when I do not 
iommand in chief, I have no desire to be in the secret. 

Captain Gottineau engaged the Countess of Scarborough 
and took her after an hour's action, while the Bon homme 
Richard engaged the Serapis. The Countess of Scarbo- 
rough is an armed ship of 20 six-pounders, and was com- 
manded by a King's ofticer. In the action, the Countess 
of Scarborough and the Serapis were at a considerable dis- 
tance asunder ; and the Alhance, as I am informed, fired 
into the Pallas and killed some men. If it should be asked 
why the convoy was suffered to escape, I must answer, that 
1 was myself in no condition to pursue, and that none of the 
rest shewed any inclination, not even Mr. Ricot, who had 
held off at a distance to windward during the whole action, 
and withheld by force the pilot boat with my lieutenant and 
15 men.* The Alliance too, was in a state to pursue the 

* This is founded on a report that has proved to be false ; for it now ap- 
pears that Capt. Ricot expressly ordered the pilot-boat to board the Bon 
Jtomrae RicharcL which order -vvas disobeyed. 



V2d 

deet, not having had a single man wounded, or a single shot 
fired at her from the Serapis, and only three that did exe- 
cution from the Countess of Scarborough, at such a distance 
that one stuck in the side, and the other two just touched 
and then dropped into the water. The AlHance killed one 
man only on board the Serapis. As Captain de Cottineau 
charged himself with manning and securing the prisoners of 
the Countess of Scarborough, I think the escape of the Baltic 
fleet cannot so well be charged to his account. 

1 should have mentioned, that the main-mast and mizen- 
top-mast of the Serapis fell overboard soon after the captain 
had come on board the Bon homme Richard. 

Upon the whole, the captain of the Alliance has behaved 
so very ill in every respect, that 1 must complain loudly of 
his conduct. He pretends that he is authorized to act inde- 
pendent of my command : I have been taught the contrary ; 
but supposing it to be so, his conduct has been base and 
unpardonable. M. de Chamillard will explain the particu- 
lars. Either Captain Landais or myself is highly criminal, 
and one or the other must be punished. I forbear to take 
any steps with him until I have the advice and approbation 
of your excellency. I have been advised by all the officers 
of the squadron to put M. Landais under arrest ; but as I 
have postponed it so long, I will bear with him a little longer 
until the return of my express. 

We this day anchored here, having since the action been 
tossed to and fro by contrary winds. I wished to have gain- 
ed the Road of Dunkirk on account of our prisoners, but 
was overruled by the majority of my colleagues. I shall 
hasten up to Amsteidam, and there if I meet with no orders 
for my government, I will take the advice of the French 
ambassador. It is my present intention to have the Count- 
ess of Scarborough ready to transport the prisoners from 
hence to Dunkirk, unless it should be found more expedient 
to deliver them to the English ambassador, taking his obli- 
gation to send to Dunkirk, &;c. immediately an equal num- 
ber of American prisoners. I am under strong apprehen- 
sions that our object here will fail, and that through the im- 
prudence of M. de Chaumont, who has communicated every 
thing he knew or thought on the matter to persons who can- 
not help talking of it at a full table. This is the way he 
keeps state secrets, though he never mentioned the affair 
to me. I am ever. &;c. 

John P, Jones. 



i2t; 

Particulars of the engagement between the Bon homme Richard 
and the Serapis, furnished by First Lieutenant Richard Dale, 
of the Bon homme Richard, for this work. 
On the 23d of September 1779, being below, was roused 
by an unusual noise upon deck. This induced me to go upon 
deck when I found the men were swaying up the royal 
yards, preparatory to making sail for a large fleet under 
our lee. I asked the coasting pilot what fleet it was ? He 
answered " The Baltic fleet under convoy of the Serapis of 
' 44 guns, and the Countess of Scarborough of 20 guns." A 
general chase then commenced of the Bon homme Richard, 
the Vengeance, the Pallas, and the Alliance. The latter 
ship being then in sight after a separation from the squadron 
of nearly three weeks, buL which ship, as usual, disregarded 
the private signals of the Commodore. At this time our 
fleet headed to the northward, with a light breeze, Flambo- 
rough head being about two leagues distant. At 7 P. M. it 
was evident the Baltic fleet perceived we were in chace, 
from the signal of the Serapis to the merchantmen to stand 
in shore. At the same time the Serapis, and Countess of 
Scarborough, tacked ship, and stood off shore, with the in- 
tention of drawing off our attention from the convoy. When 
these ships had separated from the convoy about two miles, 
they again tacked and stood in shore after the merchantmen. 
At about eight, being within hail, the Serapis demanded, 
"what ship is that? He was answered, " I can't hear what 
you say." Immediately after the Serapis hailed again, 
'' what ship is that ? Answer immediately, or I shall be under 
the necessity of firing into you." At this moment I received 
orders from Commodore Jones to commence the action with 
a broadside, which indeed appeared to be simultaneous on 
board both ships. Our position being to windward of the 
Serapis we passed a-head of her, and the Serapis coming 
•up on our larboard quarter, the action commenced abreast of 
each other. The Serapis soon passed ahead of the Bon 
homme Richard, and when he thought he had gained a dis- 
tance sufficient to go down athwart the fore foot to rake us, 
found he had not enough distance, and that the Bon homme 
Richard would be aboard him, put his helm a-lce, which 
brought the two ships on a line, and the Bon homme Richard, 
having head way, ran her bows into the stern of the Serapis. 
We had remained in this situation but a few minutes when 
we were again hailed by the Serapis. " Has your ship stnick ?" 



lav 

To which Captain Jones answered, " I have not yet began 
to fight." As we were unable to bring a single gun to bear 
upon the Serapis our top-sails were backed, while those of 
the Serapis being filled, the ships separated. The Serapis 
wore short round upon her heel, and her jib-boom ran 
into the mizen rigging of the Bon homme Richard ; in this 
situation the ships were made fast together with a hawser, the 
bowsprit of the Serapis to the mizen-mast of the Bon homme 
Richard, and the action recommenced from the starboard 
sides of the two ships. With a view of separating the ships, 
the Serapis let go her anchor, which manoeuvre brought her 
head, and the stern of the Bon homme Richard to the wind, 
while the ships lay closely pressed against each other. A 
novelty in naval combats was now presented to many wit- 
nesses, but to (ew admirers. The rammers were run into 
the respective ships to enable the men to load after the lower 
ports of the Serapis had been blown away, to make room for 
running out their guns, and in this situation the ships re- 
mained until between 10 and 11 o'clock P. M. when the 
engagement terminated by the surrender of the Serapis. 

From the commencement to the termination of the action 
there was not a man on board the Bon homme Richard igno- 
rant of the superiority of the Serapis, both in weight of 
metal, and in the qualities of the crews. The crew of that 
ship was picked seamen, and the ship itself had been only a 
few months ofT the stocks, whereas the crew of the Bon 
homme Richard consisted of part American, English, and 
French, and a part of Maltese, Portuguese,and Malays, these 
latter contributing by their want of naval skill, and knowledge 
of the English language to depress rather than elevate a 
just hope of success in a combat under such circumstances,, 
Neither the consideration of the relative force of the ships ; 
the fact of the blowing up of the gun deck above them by 
the bursting of two of the 18 pounders, nor the alarm that 
the ship was sinking, could depress the ardor, or change the 
determination of the brave Captain Jones, his officers and 
men. Neither the repeated broadsides of the Alliance, 
given with the view of sinking or disabling the Bon homme 
Richard, the frequent necessity of suspending the combat to 
extinguish the flames, which several times were within a few- 
inches of the magazine, nor the liberation by the master-at- 
arms of nearly 500 prisoners, could change or weaken the pur- 
pose of the American commander. At the moment of thti 



liberation of the prisoners, one of them, a commander of a 
20 gun ship taken a few days before, passed through the 
ports on board the Serapis, and informed Captain Pearson 
that if he would hold out only a little while longer, the ship 
alongside, would either strike or sink, and that all the prison- 
ers had been released to save their lives; — the combat was 
accordingly continued with renewed ardor, by the Serapis. 

The fire from the tops of the Bon homme Richard was 
conducted with so much skill and effect as to destroy ulti- 
mately every man who appeared upon the quarter deck of 
the Serapis, and induced her commander to order the survi- 
vors to go below. Nor even under shelter of the decks were 
they more secure. The powder monkies of the Serapis 
finding no officer to receive the 18 pound cartridges brought 
from the magazines, threw them on the main-deck, and went 
for more. These cartridges being scattered along the deck 
and numbers of them broken, it so happened that some of 
the hand-grenades thrown from the main-yard of the Bon 
homme Richard, which was directly over the main-hatch of 
the Serapis, fell upon this powder and produced a most awful 
explosion. The effect was tremendous ; more than 20 of 
the enemy were blown to pieces, and many stood with only 
the collars of their shirts upon their bodies. In less than an 
hour afterward, the flag of England, which had been nailed 
to the mast of the Serapis, was struck by Captain Pearson's 
own hand, as none of his people would venture aloft on this 
duty ; and this too when more than 1500 persons were wit- 
nessing the conflict, and the humiliating termination of it, 
from Scarborough, and Flamborough head. 

Upon finding that the flag of the Serapis had been struck, 
I went to Captain Jones, and asked whether I might board 
the Serapis ? to which he consented ; and jumping upon the 
gun-wale ; seized the main-brace pennant, and swung myself 
upon her quarter-deck. Midshipman Mayrant followed with 
a party of men, and was immediately run through the thigh 
with a boarding pike by some of the enemy stationed in 
the waist, who were not informed of the surrender of their 
ship. I found Captain Pearson standing on the leeward side 
of the quarter deck, and addressing myself to him, said, — 
" Sir, I have orders to send you on board the ship along 
side." The first lieutenant of the Serapis coming up at this 
moment inquired of Captain Pearson, whether the ship 
along side had struck to him ? To which I replied, " No, 
Sir. the contrary, he has stnick to ns." The lieutenant re~ 



newing his inquiry, have you struck, Sir ? was answered, 
"' Yes, I have." The lieutenant replied, " I have nothing 
more to say," and was about to return below, when I informed 
him he must accompany Captain Pearson on board the ship 
along side. He said, " if you will permit me to go below, 
I will silence the firing of the lower deck guns." This re- 
quest was refused, and with Captain Pearson, was passed 
over to the deck of the Bon homme Richard. Orders being 
sent below to cease firing, — the engagement terminated, after 
a most obstinate contest of three hours and a half. 

Upon receiving Captain Pearson on board the Bon homme 
Richard, Captain Jones gave orders to cut loose the lashings, 
and directed me to follow him with the Serapis. Perceiving 
the Bon homme Richard leaving the Serapis, I sent one of 
the quarter-masters to ascertain whether the wheel-ropes 
were cut away, supposing something extraordinary must be 
the matter, as the ship would not pay off, although the head 
sails were aback, and no after sail; the quarter-master re- 
turning, reported that the wheel-ropes were all well, and the 
helm hard a-port. Excited by this extraordinary circum- 
stance, I Jumped off the binnacle, where I had been sitting, 
and falling upon the deck, found to my astonishment I had 
the use of only one of my Jcgs : — a splinter of one of the 
guns had struck, and badly wounded my leg without my 
perceiving the injury until this moment. I was replaced 
upon the binnacle, when the sailing-master of the Serapis 
coming up to me observed, that from my orders he judged 
I must be ignorant of the ship bei7ig at anchor. Noticing the 
second lieutenant of the Bon homme Richard, I directed him 
to go below and cutaway the cable, and follow the Bon homme 
Richard with the Serapis. I was then carried on board the 
Bon homme Richard to have my wound dressed. 

ADMIRALTY OFFICE, Oct. 12th, 1779. 

Aletter from Capt. Richard Pearson, of his Majesty's ship 
Serapis to Mr. Stephens, of which the following is a copy, 
was yeste rday received at this office. 

Pallas, French Frigate, in Congress } 
service, Texel, October 6th, 177d. } 
Sir, 
You will be pleased to inform the Lords' Commission- 
ers of the Admiralty, that on the 23d ult., being close in 

R 



130 

with Scarborough, about 4 o'clock, a boat came on board 
with a letter from the bailiffs of that corporation, giving in- 
formation of a flying squadron of the enemy's ships being 
on the coast, and a part of the said squadron having been 
seen from thence the day before, standing to the southward. 
As soon as I received this intelligence I made the signal for 
the convoy to bear down under my lee, and repeated it with 
two guns ; notwithstanding which the van of the convoy 
kept their wind, with all sail stretching out to the south- 
ward from under Flamborough Head, till between twelve 
and one, when the headmost of them got sight of the ene- 
my's ships, which were then in chase of them ; they then 
tacked, and made the best of their way under the shore for 
Scarborough, &:c. letting fly their top-gallant sheets, and 
firing guns ; upon which I made all the sail I could to wind- 
ward, to get between the enemy's ships and the convoy, 
Avhich I soon effected. At 1 o'clock we got sight of the 
enemy's ships from the mast-head, and about 4 we made 
them plain from the deck to be three large ships and a brig, 
upon which 1 made the Countess of Scarborough a signal to 
join me, she being in shore with the convoy. At the same 
time I made the signal for the convoy to make the best of 
their way, and repeated tLe signal with two guns : I then 
brought to, to let the Countess of Scarborough come up, and 
cleared ship for action. At half past 5 the Countess of 
Scarborough joined me, the enemy's ships bearing down 
upon us with a light breeze at S. S. W., at 6 tacked, in or- 
der to keep our ground the better between the enemy's 
ships and the convoy : soon after which, we perceived the 
ships beai'ing down upon us to be a two-decked ship and 
two frigates, but from their keeping end on, and bearing 
upon us, we could not discern what colours they were un- 
der; at about 20 minutes past 7 the largest ship of the 
three brought to on our larboard bow, within musket-shot. 
I hailed him and asked what ship it was ; they answered in 
English, " The Princess Royal." I then asked where they 
belonged to, they answered evasively ; on which I told them, 
if they did not answer directly 1 would fire into them ; 
they then answered with a shot, which was instantly return- 
ed with a broadside; and after exchanging two or three 
broadsides he backed his topsails, and dropt upon our quar- 
ter within pistol shot, then filled again, put his helm a-wea- 
ther and run us on board upon our weather quarter, and at- 



131 

tempted to board us, but being repulsed, he sheered off; 
upon which I backed our topsails, in order to get square 
with him again, which, as soon as he observed, he then filled, 
put his helm a-weather, and laid us athwart hause; his 
jnizen-shrouds took our jib-boom, which hung him for some 
time, until at last it gave way, and we dropt along side of 
each other, head and stern, when the fluke of our spare an- 
chor hooking his quarter, we became so close fore and aft 
that the muzzles of our guns touched each other's sides. 
In this position we engaged from half past 8 till half past 
10, during which time, from the great quantity and variety 
of combustible matters which they threw in upon our decks, 
chains, and in short, into every part of the ship, we were on 
fire no less than ten or twelve times in different parts of the 
ship, and it was with the greatest difficulty and exertion imagi- 
nable at times, that we were able to get it extinguished. At the 
same time the largest of the two frigates 'kept sailing round us 
the whole action, and raking us fore and aft, by which means 
she killed or wounded almost every man on the quarter 
and main decks. About half past 9, either from a hand- 
grenade being thrown in at one of our lower-deck ports, or 
from some other accident, a cartridge of powder was set on 
fire, the flames of which running from cartridge to cartridge 
all the way aft, blew up the whole of the people and offi- 
cers that were quartered abaft the main-mast ; from which 
unfortunate circumstance all those guns were rendered use- 
less for the remainder of the action, and I fear the greatest 
part of the people will lose tbeir lives. At 10 o'clock they 
called for quarters from the ship alongside, and said they 
had struck ; hearing this I called upon the captain to know 
if he had struck, or if he asked for quarters ; but no answer 
being made, after repeating my words two or three times, 
I called for the boarders, and ordered them to board, which 
they did, but the moment they were on board her, they dis- 
covered a superior number laying under cover with pikes 
in their hands ready to receive them, on which our people re- 
treated instantly to their guns again till past 1 0, when the fri- 
gate coming across our stern, and pouring her broadside into 
us again, without our being able to bring a gun to bear on her, 
1 found it in vain, and indeed, impracticable, from the situa- 
tion we were in, to stand out any longer with the least pros- 
pect of success. I therefore struck, (our main-mast at the 
aame time went by the board.) The 1st. lieutenant and 



myself were immediately escorted into the ship along side, 
when we found her to be an American ship of war, called 
the Bon homme Richard of 40 guns and 373 men, com- 
manded by Capt. Paul Jones, the other frigate which en- 
gaged us, to be the Alliance of 40 guns and 300 men ; and 
the third frigate which engaged and took the Countess of 
Scarborough, after two hours action, to be the Pallas, a 
French frigate of 32 guns and 275 men, the Vengeance an 
arAed brig of 1 2 guns and 70 men, all in Congress service, 
and under the command of Paul Jones. They fitted out 
and sailed from Port L' Orient the latter end of July, and 
came north about ; they have on board 300 English prison- 
ers, which they have taken in different vessels in their way 
round since they left France, and have ransomed some 
others. On my going on board the Bon homme Richard, 
I found her to be in the greatest distress ; her counters and 
quarter on the lower deck entirely drove in, and the whole of 
her lower deck guns dismounted, she was also on fire in two 
places, and six or seven feet water in her hold, which kept 
increasing upon them all night and the next day, till they 
were obliged to quit her and she sunk, with a great number 
of her wounded people on board her. She had 306 men 
killed and wounded in the action, our loss in the Serapis 
was also very great. My officers, and people in general be- 
haved well, and I should be very remiss in my attention to 
their merit, were I to omit recommending the remains of 
them to their Lordships' favor. 

Herewith I enclose you the most exact list of the killed 
and wounded I have as yet been able to procure, from my 
people being dispersed among the different ships, and hav- 
ing been refused permission to muster them ; there are, I 
find many more, both killed and wounded, than appears in 
the enclosed list, but their names I find as yet impossible to 
ascertain ; as soon as I possibly can, I shall give their Lord- 
ships a full account of the whole. I am, Sir, &c. 

R. Pearson. 

A more perfect idea of the dreadful havoc on board the 
Serapis may be obtained from the oflicial fist of the wounded 
prisoners taken in that ship ; and it may gratify the curiosity 
of those readers who are desirous of learning more particu- 
larly the multiplied afflictions to which persons engaged in 
naval warfare are exposed : 



13S 



List of wounded pr 



James Clerk, . 
Richard Angel, 
John Robertson, 
Abraham Cornish, 
John Robertson, 
William Rogers, . 
Leonard Addison, 
Richard Williams, 
James Ashworth, 
John M'Lean, 
Cumberland Ward, 
Charles Jebb, 
Richard Mason, 
Benjamin Rushton, 
William Hudson, 
Edward Morgan, . 
Mr. Brownhill, 
Mr. Wightman, 
Robert Ozord, 
Mr. Bannatyne, Surgeon, 
Mr. M'Knight 
Mr. Kitchen, 
Stephen Maggot, 
John Clark, 
Thomas Rubl^ish, 
Charles Brooks, . 
John Campbell, 
Charles Davis, 
William Pubbelon, 
Anthony Franks, . 
Robert Man, . 
John Oliver, 
Thomas Mersell, 
William Guerney, 
Samuel Davis, 
Harry Hook, 



isoners on board the Serapis. 

September 30tk, 1779. 
thigh fractured, 
wounded hand, 
wounded hand, 
wounded leg and scorched, 
wounded legs, 
wounded arm. 
wounded legs, 
wounded shoulder, 
wounded shoulder, 
wounded side. 

wounded thigh and scorched, 
arm shot off and much scorched, 
wounded arm. 

wounded shoulder and scorched, 
wounded shoulder, 
wounded shoulder, 
wounded arm and side, 
both arms wounded, 
scorched slightly, 
fingers slightly scorched. 



his Mates, much scorched in the face. 

. wounded back. 

wounded wrist. 
. wounded shoulder. 

shoulder much bruised. 
. shot in the hand. 

wounded haunch. 
. shot in the back. 

arm amputated. 
. leg wounded. 

shot in the back. 
. arm and thigh wounded. 

slightly wounded. 
. arm and thigh wounded. 

arm and breast wounded. 



Abraham Portsmouth. 
Mr. Mycock. 
Mr. Popplewell. 
Thomas Rivers. 
William Bennet. 
Joseph Springale, 



The following miserably scorched. 



William Searcher. 
Thomas Sandwell, Boy. 
Benjamin Pickersgill. 
Thomas Hyslop, 
Jeremy Murphy. 
Charles Metcalf 



134 

.iohn Lawveuce. Richard Seaton. 

Georo-e Lever. Alexander Hutchinson, 

James Caw. ', William Crow. 

,Tohn Paul. Thomas Weeks. 

Robert Ingram. John Ashby. 

James Hall. Seven or eight Lascars. 

Dead of their wounds, 
M.Y.'^vown^ Masters Mate. Patrick Sulivan. 

Mr. Plaice, Boatswain. John Ellison. 

John Jones, Marine, Private. John Appleby. 

Edward Vernon. Michael , Capt. Servant, 

Besides one or two others whose names could not be ascer- 
tained. 

WM. BANNATYNE, English Surgeon. 

Hague, Oct. 13th, 1779. Sir Joseph Yorke,the British ambas- 
sador, presented the following memorial to their High Migh- 
' tinesses, on the dth inst. 

High and Mighty Lords, 
The undersigned, ambassador extraordinary and plenipo- 
tentiary of the King of Great Britain, has the honor to com- 
municate to your High Mightinesses, that two of his Majes- 
ty's ships the Serapis and the Countess of Scarborough, ar- 
rived some days ago in the Texel, having been attacked and 
taken by force, by a certain Paul Jones, a subject of the 
king, who according to treaties and the laws of war, can 
only be considered as a rebel and a pirate. The under- 
signed is therefore in duty bound to recur to your High 
Mightinesses, and demand their immediate orders that those 
ships with their officers and crews may be stopped, and he 
especially recommends toyourhumanity,to permit the wound- 
ed to be brought on shore, that proper attention may be paid 
to them, at the expense of the King his master. 

YoRKE. 

Resolutions of their High Mightinesses relative to Paid Jonesh 

squadron and prizes, delivered to the English ambassador 

at the Hague, on the 25th October, 1779. 

That their High Mightinesses, being informed that three 

frigates had lately arrived at the Texel, namely, two French 

and one called an American, commanded by Paul Jones, 

bringing with them two prizes taken by them in the open 

sea, and called the Serapis and the Countess of Scarborough 

described in the ambassador's memorial. That their High 



13a 

Migbtinesses having for a century past, strictly observed the 
following maxim, and notified the same by placards, viz. that 
they will in no respect whatevef pretend to judge of the le- 
gality or illegality of the actions of those who have on the 
open sea taken any vessels which do not belong to this coun- 
try, and bring them into any of the ports of this republic ; 
that they only open their ports to them, to give them shelter 
from storms or other disasters ; and that they oblige them 
to put to sea again with their prizes without unloading or 
disposing of their cargoes, but letting them remain exactly as 
when they arrived. That their High Mightinesses will not 
examine whether the prizes taken by the three frigates in 
question belong to the French or to the Americans, or whe- 
ther they are legal or illegal prizes, but leave all that to be 
determined by the proper judges, and will oblige them to put 
to sea, that they may be liable to be retaken, and by that 
means brought before the proper judge,particularly as his ex- 
cellency the ambassador must own he would have no less a 
right to reclaim the above mentioned ships if they had been 
private property, than as they have been king's ships ; there- 
fore their High Mightinesses are not authorised to pass judg- 
ment either upon these prizes, or the person of Paul Jones ; 
that, as to what regards acts of humanity, their High Mighti- 
nesses have already made appear how ready they are to show 
them towards the wounded on board of the vessels, and that 
they have given orders accordingly. That an extract of the 
present resolution be given to Sir Joseph Yorke by the agent 
Vander Burch de Spierinxhock. 

Extract of a memorial presented by Sir Joseph Yorke, his 
Majesty'' s ambassador at the Hague, to their High Mighti- 
nesses, requesting the delivering up the Serapis and Coun- 
tess of Scarborough, takenby Paul Jones. 

High and Mighty Lords, 
In thanking your High Mightinesses for the orders which 
your humanity dictated relative to the wounded men on 
board the two king's ships, the Serapis and the Countess of 
Scarborough, I cannot but comply with the strict orders of 
his Majesty, hy renewing in the strongest and most pressing 
manner his request that these ships and their crews may be 
stopped and delivered up, which the pirate Paul Jones, of 
Scotland, who is a rebel subject and a criminal of the state, 
has taken. 



136 ^ ' 

The King would think he derogated from his own dignity, 
as well as that of your High Mightinesses, were he to enter 
into the particulars of acas6 so notorious as that in question, 
or to set before the eyes of the ancient friends and allies of 
his crown, analagous examples of other princes and states, but 
will only remark that all the placards even of your High 
Mightinesses require that all the captains of foreign armed 
vessels shall, upon their arrival, present their letters of 
marque, or commission : and authorizes, according to the 
custom of admiralties, to treat all those as pirates whose let- 
ters are found to be illegal, for want of being granted by a 
sovereign power. 

The quality of Paul Jones, and all the circumstances of 
the affair, are too notorious for your High Mightinesses to be 
ignorant of them. The eyes of all Europe are fixed upon 
your resolution ; your High Mightinesses know too well the 
value of good faith not to give an example of it in this essen- 
tial rencontre. The smallest deviation from so sacred a rule 
by weakening the principle of neighbours may produce serious 
consequences. 

JOSEFH YORKE, 

Doyie at the Hague, Oct,2dth, 1779. 

The answer which their High Mightinesses caused to be 
given to the above memorial was in brief: — "that they will 
in no respect take upon them to judge of the legality or ille- 
gality of those who have on the open sea taken any vessels 
which do not belong to their country •, that they only open 
their ports to give them shelter from storms, or other dis- 
asters ; and that they oblige them to go to sea again with their 
prizes, without suffering them to unload or dispose of any 
part of their cargoes, that they may be liable to be retaken 
in the same state they were taken ; but do not think them- 
selves authorized to pass judgment upon those prizes, or the 
person of Paul Jones." 

Ji statement of Mr. Van Berckel, Grand Pensionary of Am- 
sterdam, and of Mr. Dumas, Agent of the United States in 
Holland. 

The Commodore John Paul Jones commanding a light 
squadron, equipped at the expense of his most Christian Ma- 
jesty, under the flag and commission of the United States of 
America, made sail from France. August the 14th. 1779: 



137 

about tlie same time that the grand combined fleets ot' France 
and Spain of 66 vessels of the line under the command of 
his excellency the Count d'Orvilliers appeared in the chan- 
nel between France and England. As they expected that a 
French army, under the protection of this fleet would make 
a descent upon the southern coast of England, the Commo- 
dore having a carte-blanche, believed it to be his duty to 
make a strong diversion in order to facilitate the enter- 
prise. To this effect he alarmed and insulted the coast 
and ports of the enemy from Cape Clear along the western 
coast of Ireland, by the north of Scotland, to Hull, the east 
of England. In the course of this service, as difficult as im- 
portant, he made many armed captures, and destroyed a num- 
ber of merchant vessels belonging to the enemy. The great 
object of the Commodore was to intercept the British fleet 
returning from the Baltic, and consequently to deprive the 
enemy of the means of equipping their vessels of war. 
There is every reason to believe that he would have com- 
pletely effected this object, if he had not been abandoned 
on the coast of Ireland by a considerable part of his forces, 
and if his frigate, the Bon homme Richard, had been in the 
least assisted in this memorable combat with the Serapis, a 
two-decker, and against the frigate the Countess of Scar- 
borough. But after the Commodore had fought these two 
vessels during one hour, the distance of pistol-shot, whilst 
the rest of his forces sheltered themselves from any damage 
notwithstanding the advantage of the wind, the American 
frigate the Alliance traitorously fired three broadsides of 
grape-shot into the Bon homme RichaVd. During the whole 
affair the Alliance took care not to expose herself to re- 
ceive a single shot, norto have a single man killed or wound- 
ed on board. The Bon homme Richard was, during three 
hours, lashed to the Serapis, and after the battle, which lasted 
four hours, sunk, riddled as a vessel had never been before. 
The battle taking place at one league from Scarborough it 
was not possible, under the circumstances above mentioned, 
to hinder the entrance into that port, of the enemy's convoy, 
which arrived in safety. 

The Commodore entered the Texel with the remainder of 
his squadron, and his two last prizes, the 3d of October, 1 779. 
The one half of the crews, as well of the Bon homme Rich- 
ard as of the Serapis having been killed or wounded, the 
Commodore addressed himself to their Higlx Mightinesses 

.S 



lob 

for permission to establish a hospital at the Helder, in order 
to cure his wounded. But the Magistracy of the place being 
opposed, their High Mightinesses assigned for this purpose 
the fort of the Texel, and as the Commodore had the per- 
mission to garrison the fort by a detachment of his soldiers, 
he granted a commission of commandant of the place, for 
as long a time as was necessary, to one of his officers. The 
combined fleet having entered Brest, the English, filled with 
the terror of an invasion, with which they perceived them- 
selves menaced, let loose all their animosity against the Com- 
modore. The English ambassador at the Hague, by his 
repeated memorials to the States General, did not cease to 
reclaim peremptorily the restitution of the vessel of war and 
the frigate taken by the Commodore, and to demand like- 
wise that the Scotch Pirate, Paul Jones, should be delivered 
up to the King his master. This step of the ambassador 
not succeeding, he did all in his power with the Magistrates 
and private citizens of Amsterdam to cause them to lay 
hands upon the person of the Commodore, and to deliver 
him up to him, — but in vain, — no person had the baseness or 
the courage to undertake his desire in this respect. 

The English despatched many light squadrons to intercept 
the Commodore. Two of these squadrons cruized continu- 
ally in sight of the Texel, and of the Ulie, whilst the others 
w^ere stationed in such a manner as to cause the belief that 
it would be impossible for him to escape. The object of the 
court of France in causing the Commodore to enter the 
Texel, was that he might escort from thence to Brest a nu- 
merous fleet, loaded with materials for the Arsenal of that 
port, but his situation rendered this service impracticable ; 
above all, as the minister had not taken care to keep the 
matter secret. The situation of the Commodore engaged 
the attention of all Europe, and profoundly affected the poli- 
tics of the belligerant powers. But this situation became 
infinitely more critical, when the Prince of Orange deprived 
Mr. Riemersma of the command of the Dutch fleet, consist- 
ing of thirteen men-of-war, and sent the Vice-Admiral Rhy- 
itst to succeed him, and to expel the Commodore from the 
Texel, in sight of the British squadrons. This engaged the 
Court of Versailles to send to the ambassador of France at 
the Hague, a commission from his most Christian Majesty 
for the Commodore, which authorized him to hoist the French 
ftag, but to this the Commodore would not consent. On 



13d 

his arrival he had declared himself an officer of tlie United 
States of America, he was not authorized by Congress to ac- 
cept the offered commission : — In fine, he conceived it would 
be dishonorable and disadvantageous as well for himself as 
for America to change his flag, especially under existing cir- 
cumstances. With the exception of the frigate Alliance, the 
remainder of the squadron under the command of the Com- 
modore, belonged to his most Christian Majesty, and the 
French ambassador had, in consequence, the right to dispose 
of them. The American minister, at Paris, addressed an 
order to the Commodore to deliver all his prisoners to the 
French ambassador; and, to obey this order, the Commodore 
was obliged to deliver also the Serapis and Countess of Scar- 
borough, because the other vessels could not contain the great 
number of his prisoners. The Commodore continued to 
carry the American flag on board the Alliance, and as soon 
as the wind permitted, the Vice-Admiral having rendered his 
stay in the Texel as disagreeable as possible, obliged him 
to set sail in this frigate. The Commodore had the address 
and the good fortune to escape the vigilance of the enemy, 
and the English enraged at this, and also because the States 
General had granted an escort for the fleet which carried 
out the naval stores from the Texel to Brest, declared, a 
short time afterward, war against the United low countries. 
They made use of the stay and the conduct of the Commo- 
dore at the Texel, for the first article of their declaration. 

The facts above stated are of public notoriety throughout 
all Europe, and my motive in giving this testimony to Ame- 
rica in favor of the Commodore, proceeds from the desire 
to render justice to his zeal and good conduct, for the honor 
and interest of the United States in the affairs which have 
come immediately under my own cognizance. At the 
Hague, March 10th, 1784. 

E. P. Van Berckel. 

I, the undersigned, knowing not only the exact truth of 
all which is above stated, but having been oflicially present, 
during nearly three months, on board the American squadron 
in the road of the Texel, attest to it with pleasure, this 1 1th 
of March 1784, at the Hague. 
M. F. Dumas, 

Agent of the United States of America, 

The brilliant result of the terrible contest with the Sera- 
pis, filled Europe and America with the renown of Commo- 



«f 



140 

dore Jones. The British government was incensed and the 
national pride wounded, at finding one of the finest frigates 
in the Enghsh navy captured so near the coast of Great 
Britain, and in the view, by moonhght, of numerous specta- 
tors. The subjoined comparative statement of the relative 
force of the two ships and their crews, will shew that the 
advantage was decidedly in favor of the Serapis : — 

Statement of the force of the Bon homme Richard, on the 23<^ 
September, 1779. 

6 1 8-pounders on the lower gun deck, 
14 12 do. middle do. 

14 9 do. do. do. 

2 6 do. quarter do. 

2 6 do. spar, or upper do. 

1 in each gangway, 

2 6 do. upon the forecastle; 
380 men and boys. 

Force of the Serapis, on the same day* 

20 1 8-pounders on her lower gun deck. 
20 9 do. upper do. 

6 6 do. quarter do. 

4 6 do. forecastle. 

305 men, and about 1 5 lascars. 

The officers and men who so gallantly distinguished them- 
selves in this memorable affair deserve to be immortalized. 
The annexed roll contains the names of the whole of them, 
from an official source, and it is with pleasure that the op- 
portunity is embraced of inserting them in a work which is 
a record of the achievements and prowess of their intrepid 
commander. The roll includes also a specification of those 
who were killed and wounded, together with the respective 
countries of which they were natives : 

Roll of the Officers, Seamen, Marines, and Volunteers, who 
served on board the Bon homme Richard, commanded by 
Commodore John Paul Jones, m her cruize made in 1778. 
Names. Codntry. Rank. Remarks. 

John Paul Jones, Scotch, Commodore, 

Richard Dale, Maryland, 1st Lieut. Badly woundeds 

Henry Lunt, Mass. 23 do. 



141 



Cutting Lunt, 
Samuel Stacey, 
Laurence Brooks, 
Mathurin Mease, 

Stack, 

Macarty, 

O'Kelly, 

John White, 
Thomas Potter, 
Nathaniel Fanning, 
Benjamin Stubbs, 
Reuben Chase, 
Beaumont Groube, 
Jonah Carvell, 
William Daniel, 
John Mayrant, 
Robert Coram, 
John L. White, 
Richard Wat, 
Gilbert Wat, 
John Robinson, 
John Gunnion, 
William Clarke, 
Jacob True, 
Ichabod Lord, 
Daniel Russel, 
Thomas Turner, 
Edward Garret, 
Thomas Miller, 
William Physic, 
James Connor, 
Robert Steel, 
Robert Towers, 
WilUam Thompson, 
John Woulton, 
Robert Stevens, 
Arthur Randall, 
Thomas Macarthy, 
Jonathan Wells, 
William Lee, 
John Murphy, 
John Pearce, 
Thomas Jones, 
Francis Campbell, 
Michael Longstaff, 
Henry Gardiner, 



Country. 


Rank. 


Remark^s-. 


Mass. 


3d Lieut. 




N. H. 


Master, 




do. 


Surgeon, 




Mass. 


Purser, 


Badly wotinded 


French, 


Lt.Cl. Marines 


do. 


Lieut, do. 




Irish, 


do. do. 




American, 


Mate, 




do. 


Midshipman, 


Wounded. 


do. 


do. 




Mass. 


do. 




do. 






do. 


Midshipman, 




American, 




Killed. 


do. 






S. C. 


Midshipman. 


Wounded. 


N. H. 


do. 




American, 






do. 






do. 






English, 






American, 


Carpenter, 




do. 


Sailmaker, 


Wounded. 


do. 


2d Gunner, 




Mass. 


Carpenter, 




do. 


Steward, 




English, 


Boatswain, 


Killed. 


do. 


do. 




do. 


Carpenter, 




do. 


do. 


Killed. 


Irish, 


do. 




English, 


Q,r. Master, 


Killed. 


do. 


do. 




Scotch, 


do. 




English, 


do. 




do. 


Cook, 




do. 


Gunner, 




Irish, 


do. 


Killed. 


American, 


do. 




English, 


do. 




Irish, 


do. 


Killed. 


English, 


do. 




do. 


do. 




do. 


do. 




American, 


Qr. Master, 


Killed. 


do. 


Gunner, 


WotmderX 



142 



Elijah Perkins, 
Hugh Wonton, 
John Williams, 
John Peacock, 
Stephen Lee, 
John Burbank, 
Josiah Brewster, 
WiUiam Sturgess, 
John Thomas, 
John Maden, 
John Haguet, 
Thomas Davis, 
William Roberts, 
Thomas Knight, 



Names. 
Peter Nolde, 
Gilbert Crumb, 
James Smith, 
Thomas Wythe, or 
Henry Martin, 
Edward Lewis, 
John Brown, 
William Fox, 
Duncan Taylor, 
John M'Kinley, 
George Walker, 
Robert Hill, 
Lewis Brown, 
James Evans, 
John Earl, 
Robert Dougherty, 
Richard Huguet, 
John Brown, 
William Clisdall, 
James Nicholson.. 
John Connor, 
Richard Taylor, 
John Walker, 
George Johnston, 
Alexander Cooper, 
David Pritchard, 
Andrew Ryan, 
Samuel Matthews, 
Laurence Furlong, 



COUKTRT. 

English, 

do. 

do. 
Irish, 
American, 

do. 
Mass. 
Irish, 
American, 
Irish, 
English, 

do. 

do. 
American, 



Killed. 
Killed. 



RANIf. 

Surg. Mate, 

Sailmaker, 

Q,r. Master, 

Surg. Mate, 

Clerk, 

Master-at-arms, 

Armourer, Killed 

do. 
Cook, 
Armourer, 

do. 

do. 

do. 
Carpenter, 



Kemark> 



Wounded. 



Killed. 



SEAMEN. 

CotTNTRT. 

Swede, 
American, 
English, 
White, do. 

American, 

do. 
English, 

do. 
Scotch, 

do. 
English, 

do. 
Norway, 
English, 
Irish, 
English, 

do. 

do. 
American, 

do. 
Irish, 
English, 
American, 
Norway, 
English, 

do. 

do. 
Irish, 
do. 



Remarks. 



Wounded. 
Killed. 

Wounded. 



Killed. 

Killed. 

Wounded. 

Killed. 
Wounded. 

Wounded. 
Wounded. 



us 



A'AMJis. 


COUJVTRT. 


Kemark: 


Thomas Forrest, 


English, 




Jas. M'Kinley or M'Kinsay 


', Providence, 


Woundetf. 


John M. CofFery, 


American, 




Thomas Mehany, 


Irish, 




John Colbraith, 


English, 




James Riley, 


Irish, 




James Lenn, 


English, 


Woundetl. 


Joseph CoUinsoD, 


do. 


do. 


Jones Haraham, 


do. 




Joseph Wiera, 


Portugal, 


Wounded. 


Antoine Alcantara, 


do. 




Joseph Mare, 


do. 


Killed. 


Joachim Joseph, 


do. 


do. 


Vincent Ignace, 


do. 


do. 


James Quint, or Q,uin, 


New-Hampshire, 




John Weaver, 


American, 




David Cross, 


Massachusetts, 




John Turpin, 


American, 




John Carrico, 


do. 




John Burnet, 


do. 


Wounded. 


John Thompson, 


do. 




John Frankford, 


do. 




Charles Peterson, 


Swede, 


Wounded 


Daniel Emblon, 


do. 




Peter Biorkman, 


do. 




Benjamin Gartineau, 


do. 




Peter MoHn, 


do. 




Oliver Gustaff, 


do. 




Elijah Johnstone, 


American. 




Jacob Henrio, 


Swiss. 
BOYS. 




Baptist Travallier, 


Paris, 




Anthony Jeremiah, 


India, 




John Ridway, 


Enghsh, 


Killed. 


James Powert, 


do. 




John Jordan, 


do. 


Wounded. 


Jeremiah Crooks^ 


do. 


Killed. 


James Parry, 


Irish, 




Wilham Garret, 


English, 




William Listera, 


do. 




Thomas Davis, 


do. 




Peter Richardson, 


do. 




Joseph Steward, 


do. 




Isaac Hobshaw, 


American, 




?*amuel Flatcher, 


do. 





i44 



Tho8. Honnet, or Hammett 

Stephen Loley, 

John Downs, 

Nicholas Rogers, 

Aaron Goodwin, 

Andrew Mason, 

Nathaniel Kennard, 

William Cullingwood, 

Benjamin Bickets, 

James Cunningham, 

John HoUiday, 

James M'Michan, 

Robert Upham, 

Joseph Bartlett, 

William M'Cullough, 

John Kilby, 
William Simpson, 
Nicholas Caldwell, 
Jeremiah Evans, 
Richard Lawson, 
Patrick Q,uin, 
William Earth, 
Daniel Prior, 
Joseph Cooper, 
William Murphy, 
Mark Paul, 
Manuel Q,uitto, 
Robert Lyon, 



COUNTRV. 

, New-Hampshire, 
American, 
New-Hampshire, 
American, 
Massachusetts, 
American, 

do. 
English, 

New-Hampshire, 
American, 
Massachusetts, 
American, 

do. 
New-Hampshire , 
American, 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 
Massachusetts, 
American, 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 
Portugal, 
American, 



Laurent Vemess, 
Daniel Swain, 
John Brussen, 
John Jones, 
Joseph Burns, 
John Duffy, 
John Pinkman, 
William Knox, 
Abraham Martel, 
Henry Humphreys, 
Nathaniel Bailey, 
James Mehanny, 
William Wilkinson, 
Elijah Middleton, 
George Harroway, 
John Jordan, 



ORDINARY SEAMEN. 
Norway, 
English, 
Naples, 
English, 

do. 

Irish, 

do. 

do. 

English, 

do. 
Massachusetts, 
Irish, 
English, 

do. 
Scotch, 
Bengak 



Remarks 
Wounded. 
Killed. 



Killed. 
Wounded. 

Wounded. 
Wounded. 
Wounded. 

Wounded, 

Wounded. 



Killed. 
Wounded. 

Wounded. 



Killed. 



Killed. 
Wonndei 



145 



Names. 


Country. 


Remarks, 


Francis Perkins, 


American, 


Killed. 


John Hacket, 


English, 




Antoine Francisque, 


Portugal, 


Wounded. 


Francois Darros, 


do. 




Ignace Silveyra, 


do. 




Mathieu Antoine, 


do. 




Joseph Rodrique, 


do. 


Killed. 


Antoine Carriero or C 


orrisque, do. 


Killed. 


Mathieu Joseph, 


do. 




Jean Ignace, 


do. 




Jean Pracia, 


do. 




Joseph Maurda, 


do. 


Killed. 


Manuel Vieza, 


do. 




Thomas Clarke, 


English, 


Killed. 


James Fogg, 


do. 




Jean Silveyra, 


Fayal, 




Manuel Priera, 


Portugal, 




Jonan Joseph, 


do. 


Killed. 


Antoine Foustade, 


do. 




Manuel Antoine, 


do. 


Killed. 


Mathieu Francisque, 


do. 




Joseph Ignace, 


do. 


Killed. 


Antoine Silvestre, 


do. 


Killed. 


Joseph Joachim, 


do. 




Manuel Castaino, 


do. 




Louis Antoine, 


do. 


Killed. 


John Minant, 


Irish, 
SERVANTS. 





Cook, 
do. 



Charles Priestly, 



Cook. 



George Campbell, 
Joseph Holland, 

The following persons, according to the roll kept by the 
first lieutenant of the Bon homme Richard, belonged to the 
ship, but for some cause not now known, were not included 
in the distribution of the prize-money : 



Killed. 
Alexander Antoine, 
Jacques Loria, 
John B. Frerry, 
Lewis Role Tomis, 
Jacques Baterga, 
Joham Gorrica, 
Perry Carreau, 



Wounded. 
Thomas Wat, 
John Lyons, 
George Trefathen, 
Richard Williams, 
John M'lntyre, 
Hugh Euroney, 
Aaron Smith, 
Richard Hughes, 
George Johnson, 
William Hamilton, 
T 



«<^ 



14G 



m 



Roll of the Officers and Crew of the Frigate Alliance, 
Cg^ptain Peter Landais, October 3d, 1779. 



NAMES. 

Peter Landais, 
James Degges, 
John Buckley, 
James Linds, . 
John Lachar, 
Arnold Winship, 
John Swain, 
Arthur Robinson, 
John Patten, 
Thomas White, 
Nathaniel Watson, 
Alexander Moore, 
James Logham, 
Freight Arnold, 
Park, 

Thomas Ehlenwood, 
James Warren, 
Thomas Hinsdale, 
Thomas Fitzgerald, 
Lewis Larchard, 
Isaac Carr, 
James Bragg, 
John Green, 
James Peter, 
John Orr, 
Chauncey Wheeler 
Alexander Darling, 
Thomas Taylor, 
John Epet, 
Joseph PVederick, 
Robert Embleton, 
Jacob Nutter, 
George Feowick, 

SEAMEN. 

James Buright, 
James Haslam, 
George Allen, 
Joseph Plumer, 
John Carebis, 
James Richardson, 
Thomas Luce, 
James Rodv, 



RANK. 

Captain. 

1st Lieutenant. 

2d Lieutenant. 

3d Lieutenant. 

Master. 

Surfreon. 



Captain of Marines. 

1st Lieutenant. 

2d Lieutenant. 

2d Mate. 

3d Mate. 

4th Mate. 

Master Sail-Maker. 

Master Carpenter. 

Carpenter's Mate. 

Gunner. 

2d Mate. 

3d Mate. 

Boatswain. 

2d Mate. 

3d Mate. 

4th Mate. 

Quarter Master. 

do. 

do. 

SEAMEN. 

George Cock, 
John Doyle, 
John Wethabe, 
John Wire, 
John Sadler, 
Evan Evans, 
John Dickson, 
Thomas Chase, 



147 



SEAMEN. 

John Pall, 
William ShackfortI, 
Gardner Hammond, 
Charles Hisbert, 
James Chester, 
Samuel Dale, 
John M'Lean, 
John Graves, 
Richard Hughes, 
John Downing, 
John Thomas, 
John Shalf, 
Joseph Poor, 
Samuel Nach, 
John Collington, 
John Davis, 
Kirtland Griffing, 
Henry Nalander, 
John Diraud, 
James Whitney, 
Samuel Gray, 
John Fraker, 
Patrick Martin, 
Alexander Augist, 
Jacob Wendel, 
Prince Pattison, 
Jacob Wendel, Jr. 
Abraham Bradley, 
Robert Calder, 
Lewis Russel, 
Benjamin Carr, 
John Kelly, 
Michael Lyons, 
Gibman Wails, 
Zachariah Rodgers, 
Ebenezer Brown, 
Nathan Dorter, 
William Laper, 
Joseph Still, 
Hugh Fleming, 
Thomas Malony, 
Daniel Moncor, 
Thomas Bayley, 
John Smith, 
William Scott, 
Wilham Neule, 



SEAMEN. 

John Morrow, 
James Forrester, 
Samuel Piatt, 
Edward Flinn, 
Thomas Duane, 
Jacob Arnold, 
John Neale, 
John Fitzgerald, 
Peter Lunt, 
Joseph Choat, 
Jeremiah Perry, 
Stephen Turner, 
Daniel Hancock, 
Robert Smith, 
Richard Woodron, 
John Simpson, 
Charles Bcawn, 
John Jones, 
Peter Greenwood, 
Juba Blodgett, 
Zadock Bell, 
David Iron, 
John M'Gaham, 
William Barrett, 
Thomas Bolton, 
John Sorry, 
Owen Hewitt, 
Thomas Jones, 
Owen Rues, 
Samuel Gethel, 
Walter Dumphy, 
Juba Bourne, 
Henry Callaghan, 
Elisha Ozal, 
Joseph Scudman, 
Moses Stocking, 
Richard Mowbray, 
John Watkins, 
John Cochran, 
John Leggins, 
Archibald Martin, 
James Fearam, 
John Blean. 
Robert Hamilton, 
John Kelly, 
John Lake, 



148 



SEAMEN. 


SEAMEN-. 


Arthur Bennett, 


William Taylor, 


Joseph Shillaber, 


Alexander Galoway, 


Richard Pricand, 


James Heath, 


Pheones Baker, 


Andrew Witham, 


David Jackson, 


Thomas Andrews, 


Daniel Knight, 


John Ambrose, 


James Brown, 


Barry Clarke, 


Ebenezer Edwards, 


Samuel Wall, 


Ozere Hone, 


Samuel Rodgers, 


Joseph Batter, 


Richard Parish, 


Thomas Walsh, 


Benjamin Taylor, 


James Bounds, 


William M'Cassettj 


John Kennedy, 


Thomas Cox, 


John Mayne, 


John Hannibal, 


George Skipper, 


Asher Cranded, 


Peter Lyons, 


Charles Ross, 


John Kirks, 


Samuel Lambert, 


Henry Wrightington, 


Richard Lunt, 


Benjamin Youlin, 


WiUiam Patton, 


Nathaniel Warner, 


William Brown, 


Henry Wilson, 


Stephen Rodgers, 


Moses Hilton, 


Luther Breck, 


John Adams, 


Ephraim Clark, 


Abraham Simmonds, 


Edward Jarvis, 


Daniel Nicholson, 


Samuel Carroll, 


David Hoye, 


Joseph Strieker, 


John Dalson, 


John Diamond, 


Zachariah Bassett, 


Paul Noyes, 


Robert Ellis, 


Alexander Libby. 


SUPERWrMERARIES. 


Nathan Blodgett, 


Secretary. 


Samuel Guild, 


. Surgeon's Mate. 


James Daly, 


do. 


John Holeky, 


do. 


Shipman Bangs, 


Clerk. 


Fitz Pool, 


do. 


Ebenezer Pild, 


Armourer. 


Chase Rodgers, 




Benjamin Bowers, 




Peter Adams, 


. Cook. 


Michael Baptist, 


do. 


John Farman, 


. 1st Sergeant. 


Alexander Ogden, 


2d Sergeant. 


Matthew Ingram, 


. Volunteer. 


John Spencer, . 


do. 



149 

Th6 following letters present so interesting a view ot 
the motives and feelings of Com. Jones both in adverse 
and prosperous circumstances, and of the opinions enter- 
tained by others of his conduct and bravery in the matter 
referred to, that, in justice to his memory, they are now 
made public. 

James Lovell, Esq. 

Sir, Passi/, October \7th, 1779. 

Enclosed I send yon a copy of the instructions I gave to 
Com. Jones, when it was intended to send with him some 
transports and troops, to make descents in England. Had 
not the scheme been altered by the more general one of a 
grand invasion, I know he would have endeavoured to put 
some inconsiderable towns to a high ransom or burnt them. 
He sailed without the troops, but he nevertheless would 
have attempted Leith, and went into the Firth of Edinburg 
with that intention, but a sudden hard gale of wind forced 
him out again. The late provocations, by the burning of 
Fairfield and other towns, added to the preceding, have at 
length demolished all my moderation ; and were such ano- 
ther expedition to be concerted, I think so much of that 
disposition would not appear in the instructions. 

Instructions to the Hon. John Paul Jones, Esq. comman- 
der of the American squadron, in the service of the 
United States, now in the port of L'Orient. 

1 . His majesty having been pleased to grant some troops 
for a particular expedition, proposed to annoy our common 
enemy, in which the sea-force under your command might 
have an opportunity of distinguishing itself, you are to re- 
ceive on board your ships of war, and the other vessels des- 
tined for that purpose, the troops that shall present them- 
selves to you, afford them such accommodations as shall be 
most proper for preserving their health, and convey them 
to such port or place as their commander shall desire to 
land them at. 

2. When the troops are landed, you are to aid by all 
means in your power, their operations, as they will be in- 
structed in like manner, to aid and support those you may 
make with your ships, that so by this concurrence and union 
of your different forces, all that such a compounded strength 
is capable of, may be effected. 



150 

3. You are, daring the expedition, never to depart from 
the troops, so as not to be able to protect them, or to se- 
cure their retreat in case of a repulse ; and in all events you 
are to endeavour their complete re-embarkation on board 
the ships and transports under your command when the ex- 
pedition shall be ended. 

4. You are to bring to France all the English seamen 
you may happen to take prisoners, in order to complete the 
good work you already have made such progress in, of de- 
livering by an exchange the rest of our countrymen now 
languishing in the gaols of Great Britain. 

5. As many of your officers and people have lately esca- 
ped from English prisons, either in Europe or America, 
you are to be particularly attentive to their conduct towards 
the prisoners which the fortune of war may throw into 
your hands, lest the resentment of the more than barbarous 
usage by the English in many places towards the Ameri- 
cans, should occasion a retaliation and imitation of what 
ought rather to be detested and avoided, for the sake of hu- 
manity, and for the honor of our country. 

6. In the same view, although the English have wantonly 
burnt many defenceless towns in America, you are not to 
follow this example, unless Avhen a reasonable ransom is 
refused, in which case, your own generous feelings as well 
as this instruction, will induce you to give timely notice of 
your intention, that sick and ancient persons, women and 
children, may be first removed. 

Given at Passy this 28th day of April, 1779. 

B. Franklin, 
Minister plenipotentiary from the United 
States at the court of France. 

The Hon. Commodore Jones. 

Dear Sir, Amsterdam Oct. 25tk, 1779. 

I am with your favor of the 20th. The following lines 
are an abstract of a letter from the great man at the Hague. 

" I am extremely glad to find that the atlair which caused 
me so much uneasiness, has not been followed by any dis- 
agreeable circumstances. I rely confidently on the circum- 
spection of Mr. Jones, and I am well persuaded that he will 
not give occasion for the slightest complaint, and what is 
equally as important, is that he experiences here the most 
favorable treatment. The States of Holland have unani- 



151 

mously adopted the advice of the admiralty, which is in per- 
fect conformity with that of the particular College of Am- 
sterdam, of which you have been informed. In all proba- 
bility the resolution of the province will be confirmed on 
Monday by that of the States-General, and the answer high- 
ly satisfactory for the Congress, transmitted to Mr. Yorke. 
I learn with great pleasure that Mr. Jones has receiv- 
ed orders which are agreeable to him, relative to Capt. 
Landais." 

They want here your answer respecting the five deserters, 
who are seized, and your promise to pardon them when 
you will have them in your power. 

After having read with attention the copy of your letter, 
dear Sir, to his e.xcellency Dr. Franklin, of the 3d of Octo- 
ber, intended for M. de Capelle, 1 think it highly improper 
to be sent to the gentleman so as it is presently, and that he 
must not be acquainted with your complaints against M. de 
Chaumont. I think 1 must tell you also, dear Sir, that 1 am 
not in any connexion with this gentleman respecting Ame- 
rica, and that nobody has the secret of my negotiations here, 
besides two great men, with whom this gentleman is not in- 
timate. He is a very good republican ; but by his circum- 
stances he cannot do any good towards an alliance between 
the two republics. He is a well thinking private ; but that 
is all, being excluded from any share of government in his 
country. This between us. I am, Sic. 

Dumas. 

P. S. The great man desires to know when you think 
to be ready to sail. 

On hoard the Serapis at the Texel, Oct, 'iGth, 1779. 
M. Le Ray De Chaumont, Jun. 
You will pardon, my dear friend, my not having written to 
you earlier since my arrival here ; my silence has not, I assure 
you, been the effect of the little misunderstanding which 
unhappily took place between your father and myself when 
he imposed upon me a " Concordat'''' at Groaix, which I 
thought and think still, I dishonored my hand by signing. 
The ticklish and uncertain situation of the politics of this 
country, as affecting the flag of America, has hitherto so 
much occupied my attention, that I have found little leisure 
to write. My fears in that respect being now entirely re- 
moved bv an unanimous resolution of the States-General 



152 

that is tar more favorable to our cause, than I had reason 
to expect ; I employ this breathing space with great plea- 
sure to assure you that my regard and affection for all the 
family of de Chaumont is far from diminished ; I earnestly 
wish your father to give to oblivion the past misintelU- 
gence. 1 am persuaded that he will now see the impro- 
priety of communicating too early the intended enterprises 
and operations of a partizan, and no longer blame me for 
avoiding free conversations on such subjects. It is not in- 
deed my characteristic to be free of words. My heart 
however, is no stranger to the sentiments and duties of 
friendship, though my situation as a servant of the public 
leaves me without the power of obliging my private friends 
except in the pleasure which I am persuaded they take in 
hearing of my success, when they have furnished me with 
the means. 

It affords me pleasure to assure you that I cannot too 
much praise the gallant behaviour of the young volunteer 
Baptiste Travallier whom you sent to L'Orient ; in the en- 
gagement a sailor called for a wad in loading one of the 
great guns, he furnished him immediately by substituting 
his coat, which he then wore, and soon afterward, when the 
Bon homme Richard was on fire, he in,stantly took off his 
shirt, and dipped it in water and applied it with great dex- 
terity to smother the flames. 

Present my best respects to Madame de Chaumont and 
to your sisters. 1 beseech them and you to love me, and 
that your father will forgive my past fault, which was the 
effect only of my believing that he had less confidence in 
me than he had taught me to expect, and had always said I 
had merited. 

I am, affectionately and truly, &c. 

T certify that the original, of which the preceding is a 
copy, was duly received by me. 

Le Rav de Chaumont. 
New-York, Dec, 1821. 

On hoard the Serapis at the Texel, Oct. ^Bth, 1779. 
Edward Bancroft, Esq. 

My Dear Friend, 
Your warm and afiectionatc letter of the 14th is doubly 
welcome ; and although it overrates and praises my ser- 
vices bevond their real merits, yet the commendation of su- 



■n-^ 



' Ids 

penor understanding, and from the man whom I entirely 
love and esteem, cannot but afford me the truest pleasure. 

M. de Chaumont has written me a very affectionate let- 
ter; but then he had written me many equally affectionate let- 
ters even from the first of our acquaintance, offering me al- 
ways the most disinterested services, until that of the 14th of 
June, whereof I enclose a copy. He has not yet offered me 
an apology respecting the dishonorable " Concordat''^ which 
he afterward imposed upon me at Groaix. I love him how- 
ever, notwithstanding ; and as his excellency tells me that 
M. de Chaumont has still "a great regard for me," that as- 
surance revives all my former friendship, and will confirm 
it if you think the answer which I have here inclosed is pro- 
per, and that the delivery of it will put a final end on his 
part to our misunderstanding. At any rate I pray you to 
present my warmest respects to the whole family, for whom 
1 shall ever retain a grateful affection. 

I am happy my dear Sir, in being able to assure you 
that in spite of Sir Joseph,* the flag of freedom is highly 
respected indeed at the Texel. I had yesterday the honor 
to receive authority, by an unanimous resolution of the 
States, and by an order of the Prince of Orange, to land 
as many prisoners as I please, to place centinels to guard 
them in the fort on the Texel, to haul up the draw-bridge 
of that fort, and to take them away again from thence when- 
ever I think proper, and dispose of them afterward as though 
they had never been landed. — Huzza, America ! 

Captain Landais has been ashore for some days past, but 
I believe is not yet set out from the Helder. I understand 
that he has been, and is trying to excite the compassion of 
the people, and in that mode to obtain certificates in his 
favor. It is natural also to conclude that the late captain 
of the Serapis will continue to stretch a point and save his 
own credit, if he can, by speaking of damage done to him 
by the AHiance. Let them do their utmost. I shall for- 
ward the necessary proof. Yours, &:c. 

On board the Bon homme Richard'' s prize, the ship of ) 
war Serapis of 44 guns, at the Texel, Oct. 28th, 1779. ) 

To Madam Le Ray de Chaumont. 
I can no longer, my dear madam, refrain from writing to 

* Sir Joseph Yorke, English minister at the Hajire. 

V 



ywu, although I have not been honored with a line lioui 
vou since my letter from L'Orient, dated 13th June. 

I congratulate you on my late success, because I know it 
affords you pleasure : and knowing this, is, 1 assure you, a 
very singular addition to my satisfaction. What has given 
me more pain however than words can express, has been a 
want of confidence on the part of M. De Chaumont after he 
had honored me with strong proof of his friendship and 
good opinion. The " concordat," which to my great sur- 
prise, he imposed upon me in the moment of my departure 
from L'Orient, was the most humiliating paper that ever a 
friend forced upon the commander of a squadron, and even 
my success has not wiped off the dishonor of my having 
signed it. 

I am willing to believe that my friend did not see the 
concordat in the same light, and that the idea was not ori- 
ginally his own, but only by him adopted from the misre- 
presentations of persons who were constantly buzzing in his 
ear, and shewing an infinity of theory which they have not 
since been quite so happy in reducing to practice. I say. 
as I verily believe, that the idea was not originally his own ; 
and as I love him still with undiminished and grateful affec- 
tion, I earnestly wish him to forgive the complaints which I 
have made, and to continue towards me his first warmth of 
friendship and confidence. 

My departure from hence is extremely uncertain — ^my 
destination too is better known to Dr. F, than myself at 
present. Our ships are now in a severe storm. I men- 
tion this only to shew that I can, in no situation, foi^et 
how much I owe to the polite attentions and friendship of 
the amiable family at Passy, which I beseech you to believe 
1 shall ever remember with sentiments of the most lively 
esteem and affection, being very truly, 

. Your obliged friend, &c. 

I certify that the original of the foregoing letter, was duly 
received by ray mother, 

Le Ray De Chaumont. 

.Vcaj-YorA:, December, 1824. 

On hoard the Bon homme Richard'' s prize, the ship \ 
of war Serapis, at the Texel, October 2Bth, 1779. 5 
The Marquis De Lafayette, Paris. 
A thousand thanks to my loved and noble friend for tlic 
vprv kind and affectionate letter that he did me the honor 



loo 

to Avrite nie iVoni the Havre, which greatly rewards me tor 
the dangers which 1 have lately overcome. Words are want- 
ing to express how much I esteem, how highly I value, and 
how much I wish to merit the friendship and affection of 
the American General Marquis De Lafayette. 

I am very much concerned and ashamed to understand that 
my " numbers" that you received from L'Orient, were so 
ill composed. It is a proof tliat their ladyships the Muses, 
however condescending they may be on the banks of the 
Helicon, will not dispense their favours to the sons of Nep- 
tune, especially while they are 

By bounding billows and rude winds that blow. 
Alternate toss'd in air, or sunk to sands below. 

in truth, my dear General, I am almost as sorry that you 
have not been able to understand my meaning as if I had 
been addressing myself to — a fair lady ! The enclosed 
key will, however, I hope unlock the past difficulty, and 
enable you fully to see what I so much wish you to underr 
stand. 

I will send y6u very soon, a little work that shall be bet- 
ter finished than that from L'Orient ; and in the mean time 
a machine to which the present key is adapted, is forwarded 
through the hands of Dr. Bancroft, in case you should have 
spoiled or thrown away the one formerly sent. 

The late brutalities of the Britons in America, fills me 
with horror and indignation. They forget that they are 
men ; and I believe that nothing will bring them to their 
senses but the most exemplary retaliation. Landais is or- 
dered to Paris to answer for his past conduct. 

I wish to answer very particularly the three points which 
you have propounded. 1st. I never meant to ask a reward 
for my services, either from France or America; conse- 
quently the approbation of the Court and of the Congress 
is all the gratification I can wish for. 2dly. I yet intend to 
undertake whatever the utmost exertion of my abilities will 
reach in support of the common cause, as far as any force 
that may in future be entrusted to my direction may enable 
me to succeed ; I hope, however, my future force will be 
better composed than when I sailed from L'Orient. I must 
sail from the Texel in course of next month, because 
ships cannot afterward remain herein this road. My des- 
tination or route from hence I yet know not : but I need 



lot; 

uot lell } ou that 1 wish to see your lace ! 3tliy. fl is now 
in vain to say what might have been done two years ago 
with the force you mention ; but I beheve, if properly sup- 
ported by sea, such a force might yet perform very essen- 
tial service. There is no guarding you know against storms ; 
and one would wish either to avoid or to outsail a superior 
sea force. As I believe you know my way of thinking on 
such subjects, I shall offer you no argument. I know you 
want no prompter. 

I beg Captain Ricot's pardon for having said in the ex- 
tract of my journal that in the engagement with the Serapis, 
he prevented my officers and men in the pilot boat from 
coming to my assistance. I now find that this did not hap- 
pen till the pilot boat had returned to the Vengeance about 
the middle of the action, without having boarded the Bon 
homme Richard according to Captain Ricot's orders. I was 
a little vexed too, that Captain Ricot did not come on board 
the Bon homme Richard the next day to offer me his assis- 
tance, when I was in the greatest imaginable distress, and 
the signal was flying. But these are trifles — and I am much 
more obliged to him for not firing than to Landais for killing 
my men and sinking my ship. Upon the whole Captain 
Ricot has acted as became a sensible and prudent officer, and 
is a man with whom I wish to be further connected. At 
Leith he was destined to cover the descent, and I am fully 
convinced that he would have executed it with great honor 
to himself had not the gale of wind in the critical moment 
rendered the design impracticable. I shall correct the error 
in my letter to the minister, and do his character justice. 
I have a very good opinion of the abilities of Captain Cot- 
tineau, and I wish to be concerned with them both in future 
with better ships. But I must speak plainly my opinion, 
since you desire it. I do not think that the desire of glory 
was the uppermost sentiment in the breast of any captain 
under my command, at the time we left L'Orient. 

I shall ever be proud to merit the just title of, my dear 
Marquis, 

Your very affectionate and faithful friend and servant, &;c. 

I remember to have received such a letter. 

Lafayette.. 
February \Oth. 1825. 



131 

Texel, onboard theSerapis, Aov. bth, 1779. 
M. Dumas, &lc. &lc. &lc. 

1 have, my dear Sir, your two esteemed favors of the 3d. 
1 am much obhged to M. De Nuefville for his good inten- 
tions ; but duty must take the precedence of pleasure, and 
therefore I have no desire at present to revisit either Am- 
sterdam or even the Hague. I must wait a more favorable 
opportunity to kiss the hands of the fair. 

As I had the honor to write you fully last night, I have 
now very little to add respecting my situation, only that 1 
have resolved to send up the purser of the Alliance imme- 
diately to Amsterdam, in order to hasten the sending down 
a few articles that are really wanted, and that can be got 
without any loss of time, and before we get the mast secu- 
red. If the weather permits, what remains to be done, may 
be effected within four or five days ; and then I shall not 
remain idle here. In the mean time I wish the Great Man 
would order the two French Cutters here to attend our mo- 
tion. I believe it will not be difficult to persuade them. 

With respect to the powers of Captain Pearson, I am con- 
vinced that he has received no authority from Sir Joseph 
Yorke. His powers, however, must be as ample as mine ; 
and I should not, I assure you, have made such a conven- 
tion with him, if Captain Remirsma, on the part of the States- 
General, had not given me verbally, free liberty to land the 
wounded prisoners, and to guard them in the fort on the 
Texel by my soldiers with drawn swords and with the bridges 
hauled up at our pleasure; and with free liberty to embark them 
again, and dispose of them as though they had not been lan- 
ded in Holland. You see therefore that my convention with 
Captain Pearson does not bind me to continue the prisoners 
ashore ; I can embark them again whenever I please, and 
it was only intended on my part as a security against elope- 
ment. They have hitherto been guarded with the draw- 
bridges hauled up or let down at the sovereign will and plea,- 
sure of the " Governor General." If my wishes succeed, 
it will afford America matter of exultation ; and at the worst 
we can only lose eighteen or nineteen dangerously woun- 
ded prisoners, which I think will be made up by our having 
had possession of a fort on the Texel. I shall only add that 
my meaning has been good ; and that I thought I might rely 
on the guarantee that I had on the part of the States-Genera) 



while we could keep the prisoners from making their escape 
from the fort. 

I am witli respect and attachment, yours, Sic. 

Alliance, at sea, Dec. 21th, 1779. 
31. Dumas. 

1 am here, my philosopher, with a good wind at east, and 
under my best American colors — so far you have your wish. 
What may be the event of this critical moment I know not ; 
I am not, however, without good hopes. Through the ig- 
norance or drunkenness of the old pilot, the Alliance was 
last night got foul of a Dutch merchant ship, and I believe 
the Dutchman cut our cable. We lost the best bower an- 
chor, and the ship was brought up with the sheet anchor so 
near the shore, that this morning I have been obliged to cut 
the cable in order to get clear of the shore, and that I might 
not lose this opportunity of escaping from purgatory. 

I wish Mr. Hoogland would have the sheet and best 
bower anchors taken up, that they may be sent to France or 
sold as M. De Neufville may find most expedient. The 
pilot knows where the anchors lay, and unless he assists 
willingly in taking them up, he ought not in my opinion to 
be paid for his services on board her. 

Adieu my dear friend ; present my best respects to your 
fireside, and to the good patriot, &c.; and believe me to be 
always affectionately, &c. 

The consternation and uproar produced in Great Britain, 
and particularly on the coasts of that island and of Ireland, 
by the rumors of this unparalleled exploit were amazing. It 
naturally associated itself in the pubhc mind with the de- 
scent upon Whitehaven, and the capture of the Drake. 
Orders were expedited in every direction for ships of war 
to put to sea in quest of Jones, with instructions to take 
him at all hazards. The annexed extracts from newspa- 
pers of that day, will demonstrate what aggravating annoy- 
ance a single intelligent, brave, and skilful officer, may give 
to a very lai^e portion of the subjects of a great empire. 

London, September 21 th, 1779. 

A letter from Sunderland, dated 20th September says, 

that an express arrived there on the 1 8th from Aymouth, 

with information that Paul Jones was off there, with five sail 

of ships of war, and 2000 troops on board ; that on the 1 9th 




U>9 

they appeared off Sunderland, and came up within two miles, 
which put the inhabitants into great confusion, as they ex- 
pected them to land every hour, or destroy the ships in the 
harbor. 

Extract of a letter from Stockton, September 21st. 

The undermentioned ships have appeared off this place 
under the command of Paul Jones ; we have sent the bearers 
to inform all light colliers they may meet with, to take har- 
bor as soon as possible, and there to remain till they re- 
ceive advice of their being off the coast. 

On Saturday noon two gentlemen of the corporation of 
Hull arrived express at the Admiralty, with the alarming ac- 
count, that the celebrated American Corsair Paul Jones had 
entered the River Humber on Thursday last, and chased a 
vessel to within a mile of the pier, where he sunk, burned 
and destroyed, 16 sail of valuable vessels, which threw the 
whole town and neighbourhood into the utmost consterna- 
tion. He had taken 9 or 1 coUiers and other vessels a day 
or two before he appeared at Hull. The following is the 
force of Jones's squadron. 

A Boston built frigate with 40 guns upon one deck, 
(Jones's ship.) 

A French ship, (an old Indiaman) of 44 guns. 

Two American frigates of 32 guns each, new. 

One 20 gun do. 

Two brigantines of 1 8 guns each, 

And two small tenders. 

On Saturday night another express arrived at the Admi- 
ralty from Hull, with the further disagreeable intelligence, 
that Paul Jones's squadron, after having done more mischief 
in the shipping on Friday, had fell in with the Baltic fleet, 
and had taken their convoy, the Serapis man-of-war of 44 
guns. Captain Pearson, and the armed ship the Countess of 
Scarborough, Captain Piercy, of 24 guns. This action was 
seen by thousands of spectators. The other ships of Jones's 
squadron were making havoc among the fleet, most of which 
however, had taken shelter near Flamborough and the Head. 

From four captured Americans it was discovered that it 
was Jones's plan to alarm the coasts of Wales, Ireland, the 
western parts of Scotland, and the North Channel. Jones 
took several prizes on the coast of Ireland, (particularly two 
armed transports with stores for New- York.) in the North 



] 6u 

sea, and near ihe Firth of Forth, and had it in his power (o 
have burnt Leith, but his orders are only to burn shipping. 
His squadron is now but weakly nnanned, owing to the great 
number of prizes he has taken, and it therefore may fall 
an easy conquest to the 16 sail of men-of-war who have or- 
ders to go after him. 

The Serapis man-of-war lost her main-mast, bowsprit, 
and mizen top-mast before she struck, and the Countess of 
Scarborough made an exceeding good defence against one of 
the 32 gun frigates. The enemy's 44 gun ship was not in 
the action, and the Serapis struck to Jones's ship and the 
other 32 gun frigate. 

Expresses also arrived on Saturday from Sunderland, sta- 
ting that Paul Jones had taken 16 sail more of colliers. In 
consequence of the capture of so many colliers, and the in- 
terruption of the trade, the price of coals will be enormous. 
Instead of having the dominion of the sea, it is now evident 
that we are not able to defend our own coast from depreda- 
tions. 

The master of a sloop from Harwich, who arrived yes- 
terday, saw on Saturday last, no less than eleven sail of men- 
of-war going in search of Paul Jones, and among them was 
the Edgar of 74 guns. 

By the examination of the four men belonging to one of 
Paul Jones's squadron, it appears that Jones's orders were 
not to burn any houses or towns. What an example of 
honor and greatness does America thus show to us ! While 
our troops are running about from town to town on their 
coast, and burning every thing with a wanton, wicked barba- 
rity, Dr. Franklin gives no orders to retaliate 5 he is above 
it: and there was a time when an Englishminister was above 
it ; when an English minister would have disdained to make 
war in so villanous a mode. It is a disgrace to the nation. 
Paul Jones could have burned Leith the other day with the 
greatest ease, and another little town near it. 

Yesterday Lord Sandwich informed some Russian mer- 
chants who waited on him, that 20 of his Majesty's ships 
were sent in quest of Paul Jones. 

September 2Bt/i. Captain Pearson who commanded the 
Serapis of 44 guns which was taken by Paul Jones, was ap- 
pointed to the Endymion of 44 guns, lately launched at 
Limehouse, and fitting out there for sea, and was coming 
from off his station in the North sea. to go on board of her. 



161 

Philadelphia^ January Idth, 1780. 

Extract of a letter from L'Orient, OctobeV 20th, 1779. 

The brave Captain Jones, on the 23d of last month, at- 
tacked the Baltic fleet of 60 sail, under convoy of the Serapis 
of 44 guns, and the Scarborough of 20. 

From L'Orient dated October 22d, 
The gallant behaviour of Captain Paul Jones, at present 
engages the whole attention here. In my last I informed 
you that he had the command of a small squadron then on 
a cruize. He sailed round Ireland and Scotland, spreading 
terror and devastation in every part. He took, burnt, and 
sunk a great number of vessels, among them a ship bound 
to Quebec extremely rich. 

On the 23d of September in the evening, he fell in witli 
the Baltic fleet under convoy of the Serapis 44 guns, and 
the Countess of Scarborough 20 guns. The Pallas after an 
engagement of about an hour took the latter, and Jones in 
the Poor Richard attacked the former, — they fought for three 
hours and a half, with inconceivable rage ; two hours of 
which time they were fast to each other, and almost all 
the time one or the other was on fire. The Serapis is a fine 
new ship, sheathed with copper, on an entire new construc- 
tion, and thought to be the fastest sailing vessel in Europe ; 
she has two entire batteries, the lower of which is 1 8 poundr 
ers, so that she may be said to be almost double the force of 
the Poor Richard. 

Extract of another letter from the same place. 
The Poor Richard with all the assistance afforded from 
the other ships after the action, could not be kept above 
water, and Jones had the mortification to see her go down. 
He has made a good exchange, but he wished to have got 
the Poor Richard into port, shattered as she was, as a pic- 
ture of curiosity and distress. 

On the return of the squadron to the Texel, Captain Lan- 
dais propagated a report that he, and not Commodore Jones, 
had caused the Serapis to surrender. To give plausibility 
to the story, he referred to his having raked the British 
frigate, which, in part, was true ; but it was equally true 
that he fired more repeatedly, and with more fatal effect 
into the Bon homme Richard ; nor did he, at any period of 
the action, lay the Serapis along side, as he was directed, or 

X 



162 

take such a position as would have caused the enemy to 
strike his flag at an earher moment. Had Landais closed 
%vith the Serapis, as Commodore Jones did, she must have 
almost immediately yielded, and the lives of many valuable 
men would have been spared. IJis omission to embrace 
the chance ofTered by the Commodore to secure or destroy 
the merchantmen of the convoy was altogether unpardon- 
able. The vain boasting of Captain Landais, and his mis- 
conduct during the battle as well as previously thereto, in- 
duced Jones to recur to the testimony of the officers of his 
squadron, who had been eye-witnesses of Landais' behaviour, 
and their evidence was collected, in coincidence with the 
advice of Dr. Franklin, and incorporated in the annexed 
documents, the tenor of which will remove every scruple of 
doubt as to the disobedient and reprehensible procedure of 
the captain of the Alliance. 

Charges and Proofs respecting the conduct of Peter Landais^ 

We, the officers, &lc., of the American squadron now at 
the Texel, this 30th day of October 1779, do attest and de- 
clare, upon our words of honor as gentlemen, that all the fol- 
lowing articles, which we subscribe, respecting the conduct 
of Peter Landais, Captain of the frigate Alliance, are really 
and truly matters of fact. In witness whereof we hereunto 
sign our names and qualities ; and will, at any time here- 
after, be ready to prove the same upon oath if required. 

1. The Captain of the Alliance did not take the steps in 
his power, to prevent his ship from getting foul of the Bon 
homme Richard, in the Bay of Biscay ; for instead of put- 
ting his helm a- weather, and bearing up to make way for 
his commanding officer, which was his duty, he left the deck 
to load his pistols. 

2. When in chase of a ship, supposed an English East 

Indiaman, on the day of August 1779, Captain Landais 

did not do his utmost to overtake that ship, which he might 
easily have done before night, but put his helm a-weather, 
and bore away several times in the day, after the Alliance 
had gained the wake of the chase, and was overtaking her 
very fast. 

3. Captain Landais behaved with disrespect and imperti- 
nence towards the Commander in chief of the squadr<Mi, on 
frequent occasions. 



163 

4. He disobeyed his signals. 

5. He very seldom answered any of them. 

6. He expressed his fears and apprehensions of being 
taken on the coast of Ireland, and insisted on leaving sight 
of it immediately, when we had cruized there only two 
days. 

7. His separation from the squadron the first time, must 
have happened either through ignorance or design ; because 
though he distinctly saw the signal for the course before 
night, yet he altered it, first two, and then four points of the 
compass before morning. 

8. His separation from the squadron the second time, 
must also have happened through ignorance or design ; be- 
cause the wind being at N. W. and the other ships, to his 
knowledge, lying to, and being astern of the Alliance, what 
less than separation could be the consequence of his obsti- 
nacy in ordering the weather main-brace to be hauled in, 
and the ship to be steered S. W., and S. W. by S., in the 
trough of the sea, which was done from ten at night, till 
morning ; and he would not then permit the ship to be 
tacked, in order to regain the squadron, as was proposed to 
him by the officers. 

9. On the morning of the 23d September, when the Bon 
homme Richard, after being off the Spurn, came in sight of 
the Alliance and Pallas,off Flamborough Head, Captain Lan- 
dais distinctly told Captain Cottineau, that if it was, as it 
appeared, a fifty gun-ship, they must run away ; although he 
must have been sure that the Pallas,/?-o?n her heavy sailing. 
must have fallen a sacrifice. 

10. In the afternoon of the same day, Captain Landais 
paid no attention to signals, particularly the signal of pre- 
paration, and for the line ; which was made with great care, 
and very distinctly, on board the Bon homme Richard. 

1 1 . Although the Alliance was a long way a-head of the 
Bon homme Richard, when bearing down on the Baltic fleet, 
yet Captain Landais lay out of gun-shot to windwai-d, until 
the Bon homme Richard had passed by and closely engaged 
the Serapis, and then, instead of coming to close action with 
the Countess of Scarborough, the Alliance fired at very 
long shot. 

« 1 2. He continued to windward, and, a considerable time 
after the action began, fell astern and spoke the Pallas, 
leaving the Countess of Scarborough in the wake of the 



104 

tihips engaged, and at free liberty to rake the Bon hommr 
Richard. 

1 3. After the Bon homme Richard and Serapis were made 
fast along side of each other, (which was not done till an 
hour after the engagement began,) Captain Landais, out of 
musket shot, raked the Bon homme Richard with cross-bar 
and grape shot, &;c., which killed a number of men, dis- 
mounted sundry guns, put out the side lights, and silenced all 
the 12 pounders. 

14. The Alliance then ran down towards the Pallas and 
Scarborough that were at the time engaged at a consider- 
able distance to leeward of the Bon homme Richard and 
Serapis, and Captain Landais hovered about there out of 
gun-shot, and without firing, till some time after the Countess 
of Scarboiough had struck ; and then bore down under her 
top-sails, and spoke, first the prize, and then the Pallas, ask- 
ing a number of questions. 

15. At last Captain Landais made sail under his topsails, 
to work up to windward, but made tacks before he (being 
within the range of grape-shot, and, at the longest, three 
quarters of an hour before the Serapis struck,) fired a second 
broadside into the Bon homme Richard's larboard quarter, 
the latter part whereof was fired when the Alliance was not 
more than three points abaft the Bon homme Richard's beam, 
although many tongues had cried from the Bon homme Rich- 
ard that Captain Landais was firing into the wrong ship, and 
prayed him to lay the enemy along side. Three large signal 
lanthorns, with proper signal wax candles in them, and well 
lighted, had also, previously to his firing, been hung over 
the bow, quarter, and waist of the Bon homme Richard in 
a horizontal line, which was the signal of reconnoisance ; 
and the ships, the one having a high poop, and being all 
black, the other having a low stern, with yellow sides, were 
easily distinguishable, it being full moon. 

16. The Alliance then passed tit a very considerable dis- 
tance along the larboard or olF side of the Bon homme Ri- 
chard, and having tacked and gained the wind, ran down 
again to leeward, and, in crossing the Bon homme Richard's 
bow, Capt. Landais raked her with a third broadside, after 
being constantly called to from the Bon homme Richard not 
to fire, but to lay the enemy along side. 

17. Sundry men were killed and wounded by the broad- 
sides mentioned in the two last articles. 



■Tf- 



18. Capt. Landais never passed on the olf side of the 
Serapis, nor could that ship ever bring a gun to bear on the 
Alliance at any time during the engagement. 

1 9. The leaks of the Bon homme Richard increased much 
after being fired upon by the Alliance ; and as the most dan- 

igerous shot which the Bon homme Richard received under 
the water, were under the larboard bow and quarter, they 
must have come from the Alliance, for the Serapis was on 
the other side. 

20. Several people on board the Alliance told Capt. Lan- 
dais, at different times, that he fired upon the wrong ship ; 
others refused to fire. 

2 1 . The AlHance only fired three broadsides, while within 
gun shot, on the Bon homme Richard and Serapis. 

22. The morning after the engagement, Capt. Landais 
acknowledged on board the Serapis, that he raked each 
time with grape shot, which he knew would scatter. 

23. Capt. Landais has acknowledged since the action, 
that he would have thought it no harm if the Bon homme 
Richard had struck, for it would have given him an oppor- 
tunity to retake her, and to take the Serapis. 

24. He has frequently declared that he was the only 
American in the squadron, and that he was not under the 
orders of Capt. Jones. 

25. In coming into the Texel he declared that if Captain 
Jones should hoist a broad pendant, he would, to vex him, 
hoist another. 

I attest the articles number 2. 4. 5. 10. 11. 15. 16. and 
22, to be matters of fact, and I believe all the rest. 

Robert Coram, Midshipman. 

I attest the articles number 2. 3. 4. 5. 9. 10. 11. 13. 15. 
16. 17. 19. 21. and 22, to be matters of fact, and 1 believe 
all the rest. J. W. Linthwaite, Midshipman. 

I attest the articles number 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 10. 11. 13. 15. 
16. 17. 19. 21. and 22, to be matters of fact, and I believe 
all the rest. John Mayrant, Midsliipman. 

I attest the articles number 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 10. 13. 
15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 22. 23. and 24, to be matters of fact, 
and I believe all the rest. 

Lieut. Col. Weibert. 

I attest the articles number 2. 3. and 11, to be matters of 
fact, and I believe all the rest. 

Benjamin Stubbs, Midshipman'. 



166 

/ 

I attest tlie articles number 2. 3. 4. d. G. 10. 11. 13. 16. 

16. and 17, to be matters of fact, and I believe all the rest. 

Thomas Potter, Midshipman. 
I attest the articles number 2. 3. 4. 5. 10. 1 1. 13. 15. and 
19, to be matters of fact, and I believe all the rest. 

Nathaniel Fanning, Midshipman. 
1 attest the articles number 3. 4. 3. 10. 1 1. 13. 15. 16. 

17. 19. and 21, to be matters of fact, and I believe all the 
rest. Thomas L^undy, Midshipman. 

I attest the articles number 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 10. 11. 13. 15. 

16. and 17, to be matters of fact, and I believe all the rest. 

Beaumont Groube, Midshipman. 
I attest the articles number 2. 3. 4. 5. 10. 11. 15. 16. 17. 

18. and 23, to be matters of fact. 

Stack, Lieut, of Walsh's Reg. 
I attest the articles number 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 10. 11. 13. 15. 

19. 23. and 24, to be matters of fact. 

Macarthy, Officer of Walsh's Reg. 
I attest the articles number 2. 3. 4. 5. 15. 16. 17. 18. 
19. and 21, to be matters of fact. 

Richard Dale, First Lieutenant. 
I attest the articles number 2. 3. 4. 5. 11. 14. and 22, 
to be matters of fact. 

Henry Lunt, Second Lieutenant. 
I attest the articles number 2. 3. 4. 5. 10. 11. 13. 1.5. 16. 

17. 18. 19, and 21, to be matters of fact. 

Samuel Stagey, Master. 
We attest the articles number 2. 3. 4. 5. 7. 8. 11. 12. 
18.* 20. and 21, to be matters of fact. 

James Degge, Lieutenant, ) 
John Buckley, Master, > Alliance. 

John Larcher, Master's Mate, ) 
1 attest to the articles number 11. 12. 14. and 24 ; as to 
the 4th article, I know that he refused to obey the signals 
for going on board the Bon homme Richard ; and with re- 
spect to the 9th article, I recollect that he said, " If it is a 
ship of more than fifty guns, we have nothing to do but to 
run away." 

De Cottineau de Kloguene, Captain of the Pallas. 
I attest the articles number 2. 5. 11. 12. 20. and 22, to 
be matters of fact. M. Park, 

Captain of Marines of the Alliance. 

* The Alliance never passed on the ofif side of the Serapis. 



167 

I, the subscriber, being sent for by the commodore on tiic 
23d day of September, to repair immediately on board his 
ship, the Bon homme Richard, there to examine and find 
out the leaks of his ship, which was within an hour after 
the engagement with the Serapis, an English ship of war, I 
accordingly obeyed the commodore's orders, and repaired 
on board his ship, when, after searching diligently without 
and within the said ship, I found it was impracticable to stop 
the leaks, the ship's bottom being so much shattered. 

Dated on board the ship Serapis, at sea, Sept. 24th. 1 779. 

James Bragg, 
Master Carpenter of the Alliance. 

I, the subscriber, late midshipman on board the late Ame- 
rican ship of war the Bon homme Richard, but now acting 
in that capacity on board the ship of war the Serapis, which 
ship was taken by the Bon homme Richard, on the night of 
the 23d of September last, the same night I was stationed 
in the Bon homme Richard's main-top the whole of the ac- 
tion. About two hours after the engagement commen- 
ced, I saw, to my great surprise, the Alhance come under 
the Bon homme Richard's stern, and fire her whole broad- 
side into the Bon homme Richard ; she then came along the 
off side of the Bon homme Richard and came under her 
bow, when she discharged another volley of both grape and 
round shot, which I heard strike the rigging, masts, &:c. on 
board the Bon homme Richard. Though previous to the 
Alliance firing the second time into the Bon homme Richard, 
I heard some of our officers and men call to the Alliance, 
which was then within hail, for God's sake not to fire into 
the Bon homme Richard, for, said they, you have killed 
several of our men already. Notwithstanding all this, she 
fired a number of shot afterward into the Bon homme Ri- 
chard. But as to the number of men the Alliance killed 
on board the Bon homme Richard, I cannot ascertain ; how- 
ever, as to what I have written here I can attest to as a fact. 

Given under my hand this 23d day of October, 1779. 

Nathaniel Fanning.* 

* An intelligent, sensible officer. He had the good fortune and the 
merit of aiding to overcome the enemy stationed in the main-top of 
the Serapis. He commanded afterward, and until the close of th« 
war, the privateer Eclipse, belonging to Dunkirk. 

J. P. Jones. 



168 

I, late a midshipman on board of the Bon homme Richard, 
and aid-du-camp to the Honorable John Paul Jones in the 
action of the 23d of September, off Flamborough Head, do 
certify, that an hour after the commencement of it, I was 
on the main deck, where there was a brisk firing kept up 
until a ship raked us, when I saw two men drop dead, and 
several running from their quarters, crying out, " The Alli- 
ance is manned with Englishmen and firing upon us." I 
went up immediately, and saw her pass by us. She then, in 
about two hours time, came under our stern, and while we 
were hailing her, she fired into our larboard quarter,.and 
went ahead of us ; then came before the wind, athwart our 
bows, when she was hailed by Capt. Jones's orders, to lay 
the enemy on board, but they returning no answer, were 
hailed once or twice again, to which they answered, " ay, 
ay," and immediately fired several guns, but they being at 
too great a distance to damage the enemy without hurting 
us, when she might have come half as near again without 
any danger of running foul of us or damaging us. But, pre- 
vious to the above mentioned engagement, a signal was hove 
out from the Bon homme Richard to form a line of battle, 
to which the Alliance paid no attention, but during the whole 
cruize the Alliance very seldom attended to any of Captain 
Jones's signals. It is my sincere opinion on the conduct of 
the commander of the said ship, together with her manoeu- 
vres during the time of action, on the 23d of last Septem- 
ber, that his motive must have been to kill Captain Jones, 
and distress the Bon homme Richard, so as to cause her to 
strike to the Serapis, that he might himself be able to take 
the Serapis, and honor himself with the laurels of that day. 

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name, 
on board the Serapis, lying in the Texel, the 24th of 
October, 1779. 

John Mayrant.* 

* A young; gentleman of fortune, of South-Carolina, whose conduct 
In the engagement did him great honor. 

J. P. Jones. 
• 
I, late midshipman on board of the American ship of war 
le Bon homme Richard, commanded by the Honorable John 
Paul Jones, at present on board of the Serapis, prize to thq 
above ship, do certify, that while at my station in the mizen- 
top, after we had engaged about two hours and a half, I saw 



169 

to my great surprise and astonishment, the AlHance frigate 
fire several guns into our larboard quarter. Some time after, 
being ordered from my station in the mizen-top on deck, 
I saw from the forecastle, the Alliance standing athwart our 
bows before the wind. Mr. Linthwaite was then hailing her 
by Capt. Jones's orders, to lay the enemy on board, but 
hearing no answer to his repeated hail, I hailed her in the 
same words, " lay the enemy on board ;" no answer being 
yet made, I asked them if they heard us, to which they re- 
plied, " ay, ay," and fired several guns at that distance that 
part of her grape and cannister shot damaged us as well as 
the enemy ; whereas, it is my opinion, had the Alliance come 
half the distance nearer the Serapis than she did, she might 
have cleared the enemy's deck, and not have raked the Bon 
homme Richard. 

Previous to the afore-mentioned engagement, a signal was 
hove out by Capt. Jones's orders to form a line of battle, to 
which no attention was paid on the part of the Alliance. If 
I may be allowed to give my opinion on the general conduct 
of the commander, together with the manasuvres of the said 
ship during the action, it appears to me his motive must have 
been to distress the Bon homme Richard, so as to cause her 
to strike to the Serapis, and by boarding the Serapis to re- 
take the Bon homme Richard, and thereby claim the laurels 
of that day. 

In testimony whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name, on 
board of the Serapis, lying in the Texel, the 24th of 
October, 1779. 

Robert Coram.* 

* A brave, steady officer, of South-Carolina, whose conduct in the 
engagement did him much honor. 

J. P. Jones. 

I, the undersigned, Philip Ricot, captain of a vessel in the 
service of the United States of America, and commander of 
the tender Vengeance,* in conformity to the request of Com. 
Paul Jones, my commander, do communicate to him, and 
affirm to the different circumstances, hereafter declared, in 
which M. Landais, captain of the frigate Alliance, has, in 
this cruise, appeared to have deviated from that subordina- 
tion which the service requires. 

I observed, that on the 31st of August, at half past four in 
the afternoon, a signal was made him by the commodore 
to chase a sail in sight, which M. Landais did not obev. 

Y 



170 

The next day, September 1st, the commodore made him 
a signal to come under his stern that he might speak with 
him : this M. Landais did noi do. 

The 5th of September the captains of the division being 
on board of the commodore, according to his orders, M. 
Landais was the only one who refused to go, and although 
Messrs. do Chamillard and Cottineau went on board of the 
Alliance to persuade him to it, he persisted in his refusal. 

That, in the night of the 23d and 24th of said month, 
durin;^ the engagement between the Bon homme Richard 
and tlic Serapis, the Alliance remained within cannon-shot 
of the enemy's ship, from about half past eight till ten o'clock, 
without my having seen her fire. I shall add, that October 
the 1st at eight at night, I received orders from the commo- 
^.dore to go and tell M. Landais who was to windward, to take 
post astern of him ; to which I received this answer, and 
which was repeated by M. Landais himself: " Go tell the 
Commodore, that he may go where he pleases." The in- 
consistence of this answer, and his rudeness to me, have 
since obliged me to testify my dissatisfaction to M. Landais, 
who appeared to have forgot it. I affirm to the facts above 
declared. Texel, October 25th, 1779. 

P. RiCOT. 

* The Vengeance was to windward, just out of gun-shot during the 
whole action. The Captain was a sensible man and a good officer. 

J. P. Jones. 

These are to certify, that I, Henry Lunt, second lieu- 
tenant of the American ship of w^ar the late Bon homme Ri- 
chard, but now of the Serapis, commanded by the Honora- 
ble John Paul Jones, having, on the 23d of September 1779, 
been ordered in a pilot boat, with a party of men, after a 
brig, but some time after I set out from along side, a signal 
was made for me to return back to the Bon homme Ri- 
chard, she being then in chase of two British ships of war, 
the Serapis and Countess of Scarborough, and before I 
could get on board the Bon homme Richard she commenced 
the engagement with the Serapis. It being night, I thought 
it not prudent to go along side in time of action. Being in 
the boat near, I had an opportunity of seeing some part of 
the Alliance's behaviour above three quarters of an hour 
after the action began between the Richard and Serapis. 
The Alliance was to windward of them, and appeared to be 



171 

lying to, about one mile distant. At the same time the 
Pallas was engaging the Countess of Scarborough to leeward 
of the Alliance, and out of my sight. Presently after the 
Pallas and Countess of Scarborough had ceased firing, the Al- 
liance bore down for them, and disappeared out of my sight. 
What she did there 1 cannot tell ; but she was gone, as near 
as I can judge, one hour and three quarters, and then ap- 
peared to me to be going up to assist the Bon homme Ri- 
chard, but was half an hour from that time before she 
filed ; and after she got up to the Richard and Serapis, she 
fired, and stood otf from them to the eastward some distance, 
and, as near as 1 can Judge was gone better than half an 
houi-, then returned back to the Richard and Serapis and 
fired again. 

On board the Serapis, at the Texel, 25th of Oct. 1779. 

Henry Lunt.* 

* This certificate of Lieut. Lunt, who was a mere spectator, is of 
gjreat weight and importance, it being- only in the power of this gentle- 
man, or of Capt. llicot, who in the Vengeance was also a mere specta- 
tator, to give a true account of the respective positions and manceuvi'es 
of the ships engaged. 

J. P. Jones. 

I, the undersigned, certify, that I was extremely surprised 
in the evening of the 23d of September, when I did not 
hear the Alliance begin the engagement with the Serapis or 
Countess of Scarborough, having remarked just before I 
went to the main-top, (where 1 commanded a detachment 
during the action) that she appeared to me to be very near 
them. M. Landais had pressed sail during the whole after- 
noon, without orders. M. Cottineau hailed us, and asked 
what station he should take during the action, and complain- 
ed to M. Jones, that M. Landais instead of forming the rear 
as it had been agreed, took the van which was his (M. Cotti- 
neau's) from him. M. Jones, however, made the signal for 
forming the line ; and I well recollect that he caused a 
manoeuvre to be made in order that the Alliance might 
clearly see his signal, but M. Landais, as usual^ paid no at- 
tention to it, and we all thought the Alliance engaged a long 
time before us. After taking my station in the main-top, I 
thought no more of the Alliance, because the main-top-sail 
hid her from me. A little while after the Seriaps hailed us, 
and I then perceived the Serapis and the Countess of Scar- 
borough pretty nigh each other. We immediately began 
the engagement with the Serapis, and I did not perceive the 



172 

Alliance till about two hours afterward, when 1 saw her 
rake us with her whole broadside, a little to larboard of us ; 
and, at the same time, I heard a hundred voices hailing the 
Alliance, and telling them that it was on board the Bon 
homme Richard she was firing. A moment after she pass- 
ed us on our larboard side, and it was with difficulty that I 
hindered the people whom I commanded from firing upon 
her. I hailed M. Landais as loud as I could, saying to him, 
" I beg you will not sink us." I at the same time thought 
that M. Landais was taking advantage of our circumstances 
to destroy M. Jones, and thereby save himself the trouble 
he must have expected for having disobeyed M. Jones in 
chasing without orders, and in edging off to shape a contrary 
course, when the, signal was made to chase ; and on several 
other occasions, such as refusing to come on board the Bon 
homme Richard to consult on the necessary operations, &c. 
The Alliance then came athwart our bow, and began 
afresh to cannonade us very smartly ; I then had not the 
least doubt of his intention to sink us, and should have fired 
on the Alliance in preference to the Serapis, but that the 
main-topsail, and other sails concealed her from us. At the 
instant when they cried that the Serapis had struck, I came 
down, and was informed that the Alliance had killed us a 
number of people, and amongst others, an officer who was 
upon the forecastle. In my opinion there was not a soul on 
board the Bon homme Richard, who did not beUeve that M. 
Landais knew us before he fired, as we were higher out of 
the water than the Serapis ; that it was moon-light, and that 
we had made the signal by which we must have been known, 
during the action. 

The first lieutenant of the Countess of Scarborough told 
me some days since, that he had remarked, during the ac- 
tion with the Pallas, that the Alliance was for some time 
athwart and to windward of them ; that as soon as the Scar- 
borough had struck, the Alliance came and hailed them and 
asked them " what vessel that was which was engaged ?" 
He was answered " the Serapis." He asked her force, but 
they would not tell him ; he then tacked and shaped his 
course under his top-sails only to join us- 

Done on board the Serapis in the Texel, this 27th of 
October 1779. 

Edward Stack,* Lieutenant of Walsh's Regt. 

* Mr. Stack had the distinguished advantage of commanding in the 
main-top, aad the post was essentially useful in the engagement. Hi? 



173 

merit obtained such a certificate from his Commodore, as, being pre- 
sented to the Minister of war, at Versailles, procured him promotion 
from sub-lieutenant to the rank of Captain, with a pecuniary gratifi- 
cation for the loss of his effects, when the Bon homme Richard sunk; 
and since the war, his most Christian Majesty has, for his behaviour 
in the Bon homme Richard, granted to him an annuity of four hun- 
dred livres for life. 

J. P. Jones. 

I, late midshipman on board the Bon homme Richard, 
and aid-du-camp to the Honorable John Paul Jones, in the 
action of the 23d of September last, off Flamborough 
Head, do certify, that about an hour after the commence- 
ment of it, 1 heard some of the men that were stationed on 
the forecastle cry out, " the Alliance rakes us, and has 
wounded Mr. Caswell, the master's mate, with several 
men;" this report was afterward confirmed by Mr. Caswell, 
and he declared in his dying words, he received his wound 
from the Alliance. The ship then disappeared, and did not 
return till an hour and an half. As soon as she was dis- 
covered, Capt. Jones ordered the signal lanthorns of recon- 
noisance to be placed at proper distances from each other, 
on the larboard side, which order was obeyed by the mas- 
ter, notwithstanding which, she came up to our larboard 
quarter and fired into us, then shot ahead and stood athwart 
our bow, when I hailed by order from Capt. Jones to lay 
the enemy on board, to which no answer was made. Mr. 
Coram also repeated the same order, then asked them if they 
heard us, their reply was, " ay, ay ;" the instant after she 
raked without apparently drawing any nearer the distance, 
then being only within the range of grape-shot, and the tv/o 
ships lying parallel with their sides touching each other, 
several of his shot were drove into the Bon homme Ri- 
chard. The conclusion I shall make relative to Capt. 
Landais' conduct, on the 23d of September, and previous to 
that time, is, that his principal object was to kill Capt. 
Jones, and to cause the Richard to strike, that he might step 
in and claim the honor of the day. 

Given under my hand, on board the Bon homme Ri- 
chard's prize the Serapis of 44 guns, at the Texel, the 27th 
of October, 1779. 

J. W. LiNTHWAITE.* 

* Of South Carolina, and a brave officer, whose conduct in the en- 
."•a^emcnt did him great honor. 

J. P. JOHES. 



174 

Capt. Landais has oftentimes, in my presence, spoken dis- 
respectfully and even impudently of Capt. Jones. On one 
occasion, about the beginning of September last, on the coast 
of Scotland, I went on board the Alliance frigate by desire 
of Capt. Jones, and told Capt. Landais that he requested of 
him to be furnished with the names of the officers and men 
he had a day or two before that put on board the prize ship 
the Union, Capt. Johnston, that he (Capt. Jones) might be 
enabled to despatch her ; or, to be informed what directions 
he had given, if any, as well with respect to that vessel, as 
also with respect to the prize ship the Betsy, Capt. Fisher, 
which also had been manned from the Alliance. Capt. Lan- 
dais, in reply, told me very pertly, that Capt. Jones had no 
business at all with any of those vessels, for that both of them 
had already received proper instructions from him, and that 
the orders he had given were agreeable to the direction he 
had received from Capt. Jones. I told him I was of opinion 
no commander in the squadron, except Capt. Jones, was 
authorized to send away a prize, or otherwise dispose of her, 
when in his presence, but oy virtue of particular orders ob- 
tained from him for that purpose. Capt. Landais, in a 
sneering manner, again replied, that he would let Capt. Jones 
know that he had as good a right to despatch prizes as he 
had ; that they were captains of equal rank ; and that the 
only difference between them was seniority on the part of 
Capt. Jones, which he held of little consideration ; and at 
last Capt. Weibert, who had accompanied me on board, and 
myself, returned on board the Bon homme Richard totally 
unable to inform Capt. J@nes what Capt. Landais had or- 
dered with respect to those two ships. A short time after 
this, a signal was made on board the commodore's ship for 
the captains of the squadron to come on board. Capt. Cot- 
tineau and Capt. Ricot accordingly came on board. Capt. 
Landais not obeying, Capt. Jones desired me to go again on 
board the Alliance, and deliver Capt. Landais a letter which 
he then handed to me, and which I understood contained an 
order for him to come immediately on board ; accordingly, 
1 went on board the Alliance, and delivered Capt. Landais 
the letter, which he took with him to tbe cabin, and in a few 
minutes returned and delivered me another for Capt. Jones; 
this I brought instantly on board and delivered to him. It 
contained a second refusal on the part of Capt. Landais, 
and very much offended the gentlemen who had politely 



176 

obeyed the signal, and were then waiting for him. Capl. 
Jones, chagrined by the obstinacy of that officer, would have 
proceeded to the business he had in view, without paying 
any further attention to him ; but being still anxious to have 
his opinion on, and approbation of the measure, conjointly 
with the other officers of the squadron, a further attempt to 
obtain his company was resolved on. For this purpose, at 
the desire of Capt. Jones, Capt. Cottineau, M. Chamiliard, 
and myself; went on board the Alliance, to try the effect of 
persuasion upon Capt. Landais ; but in vain did those gen- 
tlemen represent to him the absolute necessity there was 
for his Joining in consultation with his brother officers 5 that 
the good of the service demanded his compliance, as an en- 
terprise of some moment was to be deliberated on ; but alas ! 
in vain did they waste an hour and more in arguments to 
this end — in vain did they attempt to persuade him — in vain 
did they entreat him — in vain did they tell him what he had 
to dread from the consequences of his obstinately persisting 
to disobey the orders of his commanding officer. Instead 
of paying polite attention to the advice given him, he, on 
the contrary, not only disregarded it, but gave himself the 
liberty to speak of Capt. Jones in terms highly disrespect- 
ful and insolent, and said he would see him on shore, when 
they must kill one or the other, &c. 

On the 23d of September last, when the signal for a gene- 
ral chase was given to pursue the Baltic fleet, the Alliance 
frigate was the headmost ship of our squadron, and continu- 
ed to keep ahead until she began to near the enemy, when 
Capt. Landais very unexpectedly and agreeably surprised 
Capt. Jones by hauling his ship's wind, thereby politely 
leaving room for his commander to approach the largest 
ship, which he instantly engaged, Capt. Landais still keep- 
ing at a respectful distance from his commander, which re- 
spect he, however, continued to observe, mal-apropos, until 
very late in the engagement. The action had lasted more 
than an hour, and the Bon hommc Richard and the Serapis 
had been made fast alongside each other by Capt. Jones, 
head and stern together, for some time, before I received 
the wound which obliged me to quit the deck, at which time 
the Bon homme Richard still continued alone with a force 
much superior to herself, and although she had been most 
severely treated by her enemy, she nevertheless continued 
fo hug her in close embrace. The behaviour of our con- 



176 

sorts upon this day was very mysterious ; but that of Capt. 
Landais was of such a cast, as, in my opinion, must una- 
voidably announce him to the public a man devoid of con- 
duct — a man of infamous principles — or, a rank coward. 

The Alliance having received no shot from the enemy, 
her captain had the advantage to have none of his men 
either killed or wounded during the whole engagement. 
And it is highly worthy of remark, that before the Alliance 
raked the Bon homme Richard by firing alternately into 
her head and stern, the eneir<y had been dislodged and dri- 
ven from the tops and quarter-deck of the Serapis to her 
first and second batteries, where they were under cover. 
The discharge of the second battery of the Serapis having 
beat in one side of the Bon homme Richard and blown out 
the other, made a breach from before the main-mast to the 
stern, cutting off the stern-post and rudder, and dislodging 
every one from that situation. These retreated to the fore- 
castle of the Bon homme Richard, where they could not be 
fired upon from the Serapis, and with those stationed there, 
were exposed to the fire of the Alliance. 

Serapis, at the Texel, November 13th, 1779. 

Matthew Mease.* 

* Mr. Mease, of Philadelphia, was a gentleman of worthy charac- 
ter. He was not bred a seaman, but had many times crossed the 
ocean, being a merchant and owner of ships. His love for America 
(his country) induced him to embark in the Bon homme Richard, and, 
the other offices being previously filled, he accepted the place of pur- 
ser. In the engagement with the Serapis, he commanded the quarter- 
deck guns of the Bon homme Richard, and behaved with distinguish- 
ed coolness and intrepidity, till he was dangerously wounded in the 
head by a grape-shot. The next day his skull was trepanned in six 
or seven places; but, immediately after the surgeon had tied up his 
head in the action, which lasted three hours after his misfortune, he 
returned again upon deck. 

J. P. Jones. 

Whereas, since the campaign of 1779, there have been 
various and partial reports secretly spread against the pri- 
vate and social character of Commodore Paul Jones, for- 
merly commanding the squadron of the Bon homme Richard ; 
and as, among other hearsays and groundless stories, I have 
sometimes heard that the above mentioned officer had form- 
ally given the lie to M. Landais, formerly captain of the 
Alliance, relating to the loss of a boat in sight of the coast 
of Ireland : — therefore, I declare and affirm, that the afore- 



I 



/ 1 i 

said commodore did not say to M. Landais, *• Vou lie,'^ bui 
no more than these very words : " Jt is an untruth ;" which 
M. Landais was pleased to interpret as a formal giving the 
lie, who was never able to overcome his peevish, obstinate^ 
turbulent, and ungovernable temper, which he constantly 
shewed during the whole of the campaign. Moreover, I 
certify, that Commodore Paul Jones, far from commanding 
with haughtiness or brutality, as certain persons have endea- 
voured to circulate, was always (though very strict and sharp 
in the service) affable, genteel, and very indulgent, not only 
towards his officers, but likewise towards the saiilors and sol- 
diers, whom he ever treated with humanity. As I was a 
witness to the before-mentioned quarrel, I must in conscience 
confess that M. Landais gave, at the time, great cause for it, 
by the arrogant manner which he assumed towards his com- 
mander in answer to the peaceable, good, and fair reasons 
to which he would never yield; so far to the contrary, that 
he (M. Landais) answered the commodore (Lieut. Chamil- 
lard and myself both being present) in the most gross and 
insulting terms — at first in Enghsh, which he immediately 
rendered in French, that M. Chamillard might not be igno- 
rant of any thing that passed. The whole of the aforesaid 
quarrel happened in the round-house of the Bon bomme 
Richard, the 23d and 25th of August, in the above men- 
tioned year. I conclude by saying, that M. Landais accom- 
panied or affirmed his offensive and very scandalous discourse 
by the most provoking gestures. 

Philadelphia, November 28th, 1781. 

Lieut. Col. Weibert, 
Of the corps of American Engineers.* 

Being on board the Alliance on the 23d of September,^ 
1779, and stationed on the quarter-deck in the time of the 
action with the Serapis and Countess of Scarborough, do 
certify, that I saw the Countess of Scarborough rake the 
Bon homme Richard, but cannot say whether she raked her 
more than once. 

John Spencer.* 

October 30, 1779. 

* He said he was a lieute&sUit colonel in the service of the state of 
South-Carolina. 

The Boa homme Richard and Serapis had been from the beginning, 
and still were closely en^ged, broadside to broadside The AUiajic*: 

z 



178 

(leing just williiu long cannon-shot to windward ol" the Countes3 oi' 
Scarborough, could easily have prevented that ship's raking fire into 
the stern of the Bon homme Richard. The Pallas was at this time to 
windward of the Alliance, of course out of gun-shot of the enemy. 
But Capt. Cottineau, of the Pallas, bore down, and having spoken 
the Alliance as he passed that frigate, he engaged, and after a consi- 
derable action took the Countess oif Scarborough. 

On the 9th of May, 1777, Captain John Paul Jones was 
directed to proceed to France, (by the Marine Committee,) 
and to obey the orders of the Secret Committee. Being 
arrived in Europe, it was the intention of Congress " that 
he should be invested with the command of a fine fast sail- 
ing frigate, or larger ship.'''' In pursuance of this plan, the 
Secret Committee of Congress wrote to the Honorable Ben- 
jamin Franklin, Silas Deane, and Arthur Lee, Esq'rs. Com- 
missioners, &;c. at Paris, as follows : — 

Philadelphia, May 9th, 1 777. 
Honorable Gentlemen, 
This letter is intended to, be delivered to you by John 
Paul Jones, Esq. an active and brave commander in our 
navy, who has already performed signal services in vessels 
of little force ; and, in reward for his zeal, we have direct- 
ed him, &LC, You will assign him some good house 
or agent to supply him with every thing necessary to get the 
ship speedily and well equipped and manned : somebody 
that will bestir themselves vigorously in the business, and 
never quit it until it is accomphshed. You see by this step 
how much dependance Congress place in your advices, and 
you must make it a point not to disappoint Capt. Paul Jones's 
wishes and our expectations on this occasion. 
We are, Honorable Gentlemen, 

Your obedient, humble servants, 

Robert Morris. 
Richard H. Lee. 
William Whipple, 
Philip Livingston. 

The ship in question was the Indien, then on the stocks at 
vVmsterdam, belonging to the United States ; but this having 
been discovered to the British minister by some of Mr. Ar- 
thur Lee's papers, of which they had got possession just 
before Com. Paul Jones arrived at Paris, and the treaty of 
alliance being on tlie point to be concluded, he consented 
lo their assigning over the property of that ship to the King 



179 

of France. Among the political reasons which operated 
this arrangement was the great opposition made to the equip- 
ment of the Indien, by the British ambassador in Holland. 
The command of the Indien was, however, reserved for 
Capt. Jones, till (subsequent to his campaign of 1779) he 
had made an arrangement of a plan with the Count de Mau- 
rapas, which promised much greater importance to the com- 
mon cause. After this His Majesty lent the use of the In- 
dien to the Prince de Luxembourg for three years, and the 
Prince chartered her, for the term prescribed, to Mr. Gillon. 
of South-Carolina, under the commission of that state. — 
This was the ship that Mr. Gillon came in to Philadelphia, 
under the name of the South-Carolina, 

Extract of a letter from Captain J. P. Jones to the Honor- 
able John Adams,* dated. L'Orient, May 13th, 1779. 

You will confer a singular obligation on me, by favoring 
me with your opinion and advice respecting the unhappy 
misunderstanding, which I am told prevails on board the 
Alliance. I ask your advice, because, though 1 am deter- 
mined to preserve order and discipline where I command, 
yet I wish to reprove with moderation, and never punish 
while there remains a good alternative. It appears that 
there is a fault at least in one of the parties, and I wish much 
to know where the fault lies ; for without harmony and gene- 
ral good will among the officers, I cannot proceed with a 
good prospect. 

In relation to Captain Landais, Dr. Franklin's opinion 
was decidedly against him. He communicated to that offi- 
cer himself his objections to him, and, in the most une- 
quivocal terms refused to him the command of a ship of 
war, giving his reasons. 

His Excellency Benjamin Fraklin to Captain Landais, 
dated Passy, March 12th, 1780. 
No one has ever learned the opinion 1 formed of you from 
the inquiry made int© your conduct. I kept it entirely to 
myself — I have not even hinted it in my letters to America, 
because I would not hazard giving to any one a bias to your 

* The Honorable Mr. Adams was then, ancl had been for pome time, on 
boaixl the Alliance. 



180 

prejudice. By communicating a part of that opinion pri- 
vately to you, I can do no harm, for you may burn it." I 
should not give you the pain of reading it, if your demand 
did not make it necessary : I think you then so imprudent, 
so litigious, and quarrelsome a man, even with your best 
friends, that peace and good order, and consequently the 
quiet and regular subordination so necessary to success, are, 
where you preside, impossible ; these are within my obser- 
vg-tion and apprehension : — your military operations I leave 
to more capable judges. If, therefore, 1 had twenty ships 
of war in my disposition, I should not give one of them to 
Captain Landais. The same temj.er which excluded him 
from the French marine would weigh equally with me ; of 
course I shall not replace hinti in the Alliance. I am, &c. 

B. Franklin. 

The subjoined correspondence will illustrate the friendly 
disposition of Holland towards the United States, the diffi- 
culties which the states of that Republic experienced in the 
manifestation of it, so as to avoid an open rupture with 
Great Britain ; the influence of Commodore Jones at the 
Hague ; the exclusively American feelings by which he was 
governed ; the high estimation in which he was held by Dr. 
Franklin, by some of the principal men in Europe, and by 
all the Americans of note within the sphere of his acquaint- 
ance. His patriotism and philanthropy cannot be ques- 
tioned, when it is observed with what anxiety he sought for 
the liberation of the American prisoners in England, regard- 
ing his successes chiefly as the means of procuring their 
exchange. Although not insensible to pleasure, he was 
never neghgent of business, was eminently discreet, and al- 
ways at the post which duty required. 

On hoard the ship of war Serapis, at anchor in the 
road of the Texel, October 5th^ 1779. 
His Excellency the Duke De la Vauguyon, Ambassador 
of France, at the Hague. 
My Lord, 
I am but this moment arrived here, otherwise I should 
have sent you a more early account of my late expedi- 
tion. I now enclose herewith a copy of the account 
which I have forwarded by express to his Excellency the 
Minister of the Marine at Court. As we have on board the 



181 

ditferent vessels here, I believe (for I have not yet been 
able to procure an exact return,) three hundred and fifty 
prisoners, and of that number I suppose an hundred and 
thirty wounded, I would esteem it a particular favor to have 
your opinion on the measures that are most expedient to be 
adopted in that respect. Whether it would be proper to 
set them at hberty here, upon such security as may be ob- 
tained, that the English government will immediately expe- 
dite an equal number of Americans to France ? Unless such 
security as may be fully depended upon can be obtained, I 
think these prisoners must be sent immediately for Dunkirk. 
We are now preparing the Countess of Scarborough and 
the Vengeance to transport them to France, in case it 
should be necessary. The Countess of Scarborough not 
being fit for war, can remain in France, while the Ven- 
geance brings back all our people, and as many more as 
can be obtained to replace the great number that I have lost 
out of the crew of the Bon homme Richard, in killed and 
wounded, not less 1 suppose than one hundred and fifty men. 

1 have had the honor to receive by the hand of our agent 
Mr. Dumas, such orders from his Excellency Dr. Franklin, as 
it will be impossible for me to fulfil, unless I meet with 
great and immediate assistance to enable me to depart be- 
fore the end of this month. The Serapis must be entirely 
new masted and rigged ; nothing being left above deck that 
is capable of sustaining a passage of any length in the ap- 
proaching season. She wants also sails, rigging, boats, and 
provision. The hull, though considerably damaged, may 
easily be repaired. 

As soon as I have made some necessary arrangements 
here, 1 mean to do myself the honor of paying youV Excel- 
lency my personal respects, and to receive your orders at 
the Hague. In the mean-time I beseech you to favor me 
with a line respecting my wounded, whether of France or 
America, as well as respecting the prisoners of war, and 
the treatment that they ought to receive in point of provi- 
sion and otherwise. 

I have the honor to be with profound respect, &;c. 

Amsterdam, Oct. llth, 1779, 
His Excellency Benjamin Franklin. 
I had the honor to write your Excellency a line from the 
Hague on the 8th. His Excellency the French ambassa- 



18;^ 

dor and the agent, have no doubt marked the situation oi 
affairs with respect to the squadron as concerned with this 
government and with the enemy. I am doing every thing 
in my power towards fulfiihng the advice which 1 have re- 
ceived from his Excellency ; and as I am informed that Cap- 
tain Cunningham is threatened with unfair play by the Bri- 
tish government, I am determined to keep in my hands the 
captain of the Serapis as an hostage for Cunningham's re- 
lease as a prisoner of war. With respect to the other 
prisoners now in my hands, if the English ambassador, Sir 
Joseph Yorke, will give us security, in his public character, 
that an equal number and denomination of Americans shall 
be sent immediately to France, 1 believe it will be good poli- 
cy to set them at liberty here ; and I shall endeavor indi- 
rectly to inform myself immediately how that matter can 
be managed. Landais is come up here, and purposes after 
gadding about in this city, to figure away at the Hague. He 
continues to affect an entire independence of my control, 
and has given in here an extraordinary demand for supplies 
of every kind. This famous demand, however, I have ven- 
tured to disapprove, and reduced to, I believe, a fourth part 
of its fir^ extent. I hope to account to your satisfaction 
for my reasons— among which is his having been so plenti- 
fully and so lately furnished. I wish heartily that poor 
Cunningham, (whom 1 am taught to regard as a continental 
officer,) was exchanged ; as with his assistance 1 could 
form a court martial, which I believe you will see unavoi- 
dable. I go down to the Texel to night, and will from 
thence forward the return of killed and wounded with the 
prisoners. 1 think the prisoner^will not fall much short of 
four hundred ; and 1 hope my loss in killed and wounded 
will be less than I at first imagined. 1 believe, also, that the 
enemy's loss will considerably exceed ours. I am ever, with 
sentiments of the highest esteem and respect, &;c. 

Zwol, October I3th, 1779. 
The Hon. Paul Jones, 
Having the honor to be an old and tried friend of America, 
I hope you will pardon, on that account, the liberty 1 take 
to address you these lines. 

It was with unspeakable satisfaction I received the tidings 
of the many successes during your expedition on the coasts 
of Britain ; but particularly was I struck with admiration 



183 

by your late engagement with the Serapis, of which M. De 
Neufville has given me some incomplete account. Do not 
therefore wonder, Sir, that I long to hear directly from your- 
self an authentic and circumstanced one, containing all the 
particulars relating to a sea fight, rather to be found in the 
books of the former century than in our present age, on the 
ocean. What emboldens me moreover to ask you the fa- 
vor of such an account, is that 1 have the mortification to 
see a despicable party spirit endeavouring to deprive you 
of a praise, which even your antagonist, the commander of 
the Serapis, if he be as just as he seems valorous, will not 
deny you. As I am very desirous to do you justice where 
ever occasion shall offer itself, you will, by supplying me 
the necessary means, and sending your answer to M, De 
Neufville, very much oblige. 

Sir, your most humble and obedient servant, 

J. D. Vander Capellen. 
Address to the Baron Vander Capellen, Member of the 
House of Nobles of the Province of Overyssel. 

Passy, October 1 5th, 1779. 
Dear Sir, 

I received the account of your cruize and engagement 
with the Serapis, which you did me the honor to send me 
from the Texel. I have since received your favor of the 
8th, from Amsterdam. For some days after the arrival of 
your express, scarce any thing was talked of at Paris and 
Versailles, but your cool conduct, and persevering bravery 
during that terrible conflict. You may believe that the im- 
pression on my mind was not less strong than that of others, 
but I do not choose to say in a letter to yourself, all I think 
on such an occasion. 

The ministry are much dissatisfied with Captain Landais, 
and M. de Sartine has signified to me in writing that it is 
expected I should send for him to Paris, and call him to ac- 
count for his conduct, particularly for deferring so long the 
coming to your assistance, by which means, it is supposed, 
the States lost more of their valuable citizens, and the King 
lost many of his subjects, volunteers in your ship, together 
with the ship itself. 

I have accordingly written to him this day, acquainting 
him that he is charged with disobedience of orders in the 
cruize, and neglect of his duty in the engagement ; that a 



court martial being at this ^ime inconvenient, if not im- 
practicabJe, ) would give him an earlier opportunity of of- 
fering what he has to say in his justification, and for that 
purpose direct him to render himself immediately here, 
bringing with him such papers or testimonies as he may think 
useful in his defence. I know not whether he will obey my 
orders, nor what the ministry will do with him if he comes, 
but I suspect that they may by some of their concise opera- 
tions save the trouble of a court martial. It will be well 
however for you to furnish me with what you may judge 
proper to support the charges against him, that I may be 
able to give a just and clear account of the affair to Con- 
gress. 

In the mean-time it will be necessary, if he should refuse 
to come, that you should put him under an arrest, and in that 
case, as well as if he comes, that you should either appoint 
some person to command his ship, or take it upon yourself; 
for I know of no person to recommend to you as fit for that 
station. 

I am uneasy about your prisoners, I wish they were safe 
in France. You will then have completed the glorious work 
of giving liberty to all the Americans that have so long lan- 
guished for it in the British prisons : for there are not so 
many there, as you have now taken. 

I have the pleasure to inform you that the two prizes sent 
to Norway, are safely arrived at Berghen. 

With the highest esteem, I am, Sic. 

B. Franklin. 

P. S. I am sorry for your misunderstanding with M. de C, 
who has a great regard for you. 

Pallas, Tuesday evening, October 19th, 1779. 
Captain Jones, Serapis, 

Captain Pearson presents his compliments to Captain 
Jones, and is sorry to find himself so little attended to in 
his present situation, as not to have been favored with 
either a Call or a line from Captain Jones since his return 

from Amsterdam. Captain P is sorry to say that he 

cannot look upon such behaviour in any other light than as a 
breach of that Civility, which his Rank, as well as behaviour 
on all occasions entitles to, he at the same time wishes to be 
informed by Captain Jones whether any Steps has been 
taken towards the enlargement or exchange of him, hi« 



18j 

orticers, and people, or what is intended to be done witii 
them. As he cannot help thinking it a very unprecedented 
circumstance their being keeped here as prisoners on hoard 
of ship, being so long in a neutral port. 

Serapis, Wednesday, October '20th, lllQ. 

Captain Pearson. 
Sir, 

As you have not been prevented from corresponding with 
your friends, and particularly with the English ambassador at 
the Hague, I could not suppose you to be unacquainted with 
his memorial, of the 8th, to the States General, and there- 
fore I thought it fruitless to pursue the negotiation for the 
exchange of the prisoners of war, now in our hands. 

I wished to avoid any painful altercation with you on that 
subject ; — I was persuaded that you had been in the highest 
degree sensible, that my behaviour " towards you had been 
far from a breach of civility." This charge isnot,Sir, a civil 
return for the polite hospitality and disinterested attentions 
which you have hitherto experienced. 

I know not what difference of respect is due to "Rank," 
between your service and ours ; 1 suppose, however, the 
difference must be thought very great in England, since I 
am informed that Captain Cunningham, of equal denomi- 
nation, and who bears a senior rank in the service of Ame- 
rica, than yours in the service of England, is now confined 
at Plymouth in a dungeon, and in fetters. 

Humanity, which has hitherto superseded the plea of re- 
taliation in American breasts, has induced me, (notwith- 
standing the procedure of Sir Joseph Yorke,) to seek after 
permission to land the dangerously wounded, as well pri- 
soners as Americans ; to be supported and cured at the ex- 
pense of our Continent. The permission of the government 
has been obtained, but the magistrates continue to make ob- 
jections. I shall not discontinue my application. I am 
ready to adopt any means that you may propose for their 
preservation and recovery, and in the mean-time we shall 
continue to treat them with the utmost care and attention, 
equally, as you know, to the treatment of our people of the 
same rank. 

As it is possible that you have not yet seen the memorial 
of your ambassador to the States General, I enclose a paper 
which contains a copy, — and I believe he has since written 

Aa 



18<J 

what, in the opinion of good men, will do still less honor to 
his pen. 

I cannot conclude, without informing you that unless Cap- 
lain Cunningham, is immediately better treated in England. 
1 expect orders in consequence, ftom His Excellency Dr. 
Franklin, therefore. I beseech you. Sir, to interfere. 

1 am, Sir, &c. 

On board the Serapis, at the Texel, ^ 
October ^Ath, md. 5 

M. Le Ray de Chaumont. 
1 owed you my dear friend an earlier reply to your much 
esteemed favor of the 11th, from Passy. Although I am 
sensible that 1 have not yet merited the many complinients 
and generous praises that you have there bestowed on my 
past conduct, yet J should be very unworthy indeed, if 1 
did not return you my most grateful and sincere thanks. 
There is a warmth of expression in your compliments which 
affords me the truest pleasure, as a proof that I still enjoy a 
share of your aflfection ; and although Captain Landais has 
lately told me at Amsterdam that you proposed to him to 
displace me from the Bon homme Richard, yet I believe 
the assertion false, and calculated to serve a base and, selfish 
purpose. I pity and despise his narrow and jealous mind, 
that could form an idea of my character so far beneath it, as 
to suppose that I sought to supplant him in the command of 
the Alliance. It must be his punishment to be informed, as 
he will by his Excellency Dr. Franklin, that I have always 
written in his favor, — and you well know that I took every 
possible pains to establish him in that com»iand, and to gain 
back to him the confidence of his people, which when he 
first came to serve under my orders he had entirely lost. 1 
can now tell besides, that although my officers in the Bon 
homme Richard were the only persons blamed for the da- 
mage sustained when the two ships ran foul of each other, 
yet Captain Landais could, and should have prevented that 
accident. He was on deck, and it was his duty to make 
way for his senior officer and commander, instead of running 
below,' as I am assured he did, with trepidation to load his 
pistols ! — On our late expedition he left otf to chase a ship, 
thought to be anEnghsh East-Indiaman, without my orders, 
having first bore away several times, while he could easily 
have overtaken her. And to his fears and remonstrances on 



Ib7 

the coast ol Ireland, is owing the escape ot the eight Kast^ 
India ships that arrived at Limerick, three days after I 
liad gratified him by leaving sight of the entrance of thai 
harbor. 

His separation from the squadron afterward, is owing, as 
the officers of the Alliance inform me, to his altering the 
course both times in the night. Captain Landais has told 
me at Amsterdam that he saw' the Countess of Scarborough 
rake the Bon homme Richard, early in the engagement. He 
, ought to be ashamed to confess that he lay to windward, and 
permitted this ! It is certain that the Bonne homme Rich- 
ard then was raked by a full broadside, besides sustaining 
the whole fire of the Serapis. 

Many people are of opinion that Captain Landais also 
about that time rak«»d the Bon homme Richard : — however 
that was, I verily believe that in firing the two last broad- 
sides upon the Bon homme Richard, he did not wish all the 
shot to miss Captain Jones, and also that the worst shot 
which the Bon homme Richard received under water came 
from the Alliance. He has since our arrival here, told Col. de 
Weibert and others of my officers, that " he was in no haste 
to come to our assistance, because there would have been 
no harm if we had been taken, to give him an opportunity 
of retaking the Bon homriie Richard." None but a fool, a 
mad-man, or a villain would have raked at tliat distance, 
while a friend and an enemy were made fast along side of 
each other. If he had wished to acl the part of an officer 
or a man he would have come to my assistance long before 
the two ships were in a situation that to rake the one at the 
range of grape shot, he must necessarily rake the other. 

But why should I dwell on a subject which can afford 
neither you nor me pleasure. I am now convinced that I 
now enjoy your friendship and affectionate wishes ; therefore 
1 beseech you to pardon the freedom of my letters, that I 
forwarded by M. de Chamillard ; which though a proof of 
the honest pride which will ever attend an independent and 
disinterested spirit, is also I hope a proof that my mind is 
far above the little arts of falsehood and double dealing. 

It shall be my pride to acknowledge every where how 
much 1 owe to the attentions of France, and to the personal 
friendship of M. de Chaumont, for furnishing me with the 
means of giving liberty to all the American prisoners now in 
Europe : — for that is the greatest triumph which a goo/l 



18'u 

mail can boast, and is therefore a thousand times more flat- 
tering to me than victory. 

I ardently wish for future opportunities to render real 
services to our common cause ; which is the only way I can 
hope to prove my gratitude to France, to America, and to 
my much loved friend M. de Chaumont, and his amiable 
family, with whom I sincerely desir^ to live henceforth in 
the fullest confidence and afi'ection. In the fullness of my 
heart, I am with the highest respect, my dear Chaumont, 
your truly obliged friend, &c. 

New- York, December, 1824. I certify that the original of 
the preceding letter, was duly received by my father, 

Le Ray de Chaumont. 

The determinations of the French Court, which appear to 
have been too tardy for Jones's ardent wish for active em- 
ployment at this period of his history, seem to have occa- 
sioned him some uneasiness. He had, moreover, as every 
celebrated man will have, rivals and enemies, who felt re- 
buked beneath his superior genius, instilled suspicions into 
the minds of the French ministry, and contested his claim 
to an independent command, where the cost of a cruize or 
expedition was to be defrayed by the treasury of France. 
Jones did not conceal his sensations. He refused to accept 
of any other commission than one from the Congress, or to 
tight under any other flag than that of the United States. He 
expressed his sentiments freely, and began to think of re- 
turning to America. The Duke de la Vauguyon was ap- 
prised of the Commodore's dissatisfaction and wrote to him 
a soothing letter, of which the following is a correct trans- 
lation : 

Hague, December 21st, 1779. 
Commodore Jones, in the road of the Texel. 

I have received, my dear Commodore, the letter which 
you have addressed to me. I perceive with pain, that you 
do not view your situation in the right light ; and I can as- 
sure you that the ministers of the king have no intention to 
cause you the least disagreeable feelings, as the honorable 
testimonials of the esteem of His Majesty which I send you, 
ought to convince you. I hope you will not doubt the sin- 
cere desire with which you have inspired me, to procure 
you every satisfaction you may merit. It cannot fail to be 
precious to you, and to incite you to give new proofs of your 



183 

zeal for the common cause of France and America. I flat- 
ter myself to renew before long the occasion, and to pro- 
cure you the means to increase still more, the glory you 
have already acquired ; I am already occupied with all the 
interest I promised you, and if my views are realized, as I 
have every reason to believe, you will be at all events per- 
fectly content ; but I must pray you not to hinder my prO" 
ject, in delivering yourself to the expression of that bitter 
grief to which you appear to have given way, and which has 
no real foundation. You appear to possess full confidence 
in the justice and kindness of the king, rely also on the 
same sentiments on the part of the ministry ; my friendship 
for you, my dear Commodore, requires that neither your 
conduct nor conversation announce the least doubt in this 
respect. Le Dug de la Vauguyon. 

To this letter Commodore Jones thus answered : 

Alliance, Texel, December 25th, 1779. 

The Duke de Vauguyon. 
My Lord, 

I have not an heart of stone, but am duly sensible of the 
obligations conferred on me by the very kind and affection- 
ate letter that you have done me the honor to write me 
the 21st current. 

Were I to form my opinion of the ministry from the treat- 
ment that I experienced while at Brest, or from their want of 
confidence in me afterward, exclusive of what has taken 
place since I had the misfortune to enter this port, I will ap- 
peal to your Excellency as a man of candor and ingenuousness, 
whether I ought to desire to prolong a connexion that has 
made me so unhappy, and wherein I have given so very little 
satisfaction ? M. le Chev. de Lironcourt has lately made 
me reproaches on account of the expense, that he says 
France has been at, to give nfe reputation, in preference to 
twenty captains of the royal navy, better qualified than my- 
self, and who, each of them, solicited for the command that 
was lately given to me ! This I confess Is quite new and in- 
deed surprising to me, and had I known it before I left 
France, I certainly should have resigned in favor of the 
twenty men of superior merit. I do not, however, think 
that his first assertion is true ; for the ministry must be un- 
worthy of their places, were they capable of squandering 
the public money, merely to give an individual reputation ! 



-lyo 

and as to the second, 1 fancy the court will not tliank him 
for having given me that information, whether true or false. 
I may add here, that with a force so ill composed, and with 
powers so limited, I ran ten chances of ruin and dishonor, 
for one of gaining reputation ; and had not the plea of hu- 
manity in favor of the unfortunate Americans in English 
dungeons superseded all considerations of self, I faithfully 
assure you, my lord, that I would not have proceeded under 
such circumstances from Groaix. I do not imbibe hasty 
prejudices against any individual, but when many and re- 
peated circumstances, conspiring in one point, has inspired 
me with disesteem towards any person, I must see very con- 
vincing proofs of reformation in such person, before my 
heart can beat again with affection in his favor. For the 
mind is free, and can be bound only by kind treatment. 

You do me great honor as well as justice, my lord, by 
observing that no satisfaction can be more precious to me 
than that of giving new proofs of my zeal for the common 
cause of France and America ; and the interest that you take 
to facilitate the means of my giving such proofs by essential 
services, claims my best thanks. 1 hope 1 shall not through 
any imprudence of mine, render ineffectual any noble de- 
sign that may be in contemplation for the general good. 
Whenever that object is mentioned, my private concerns are 
out of the question ; and where I cannot speak exactly what 
I could wish with respect to my private satisfaction, I pro- 
mise you in the mean-time to observe a prudent silence. 

With a deep sense of your generous sentiments of per- 
sonal regard towards me, and with the most sincere wishes 
to merit that regard by my conduct through life, 

I am, my lord, &:c. 

Commodore Jones had previously written to his friend 
Mr. Morris, on the 5th of December. To him he said, 
" By the within despatches for Congress, I am persuaded 
you will observe with pleasure that my connexion with a 
court is at an end, and that my prospect of returning to 
America approaches. The great seem to wish only to be 
concerned with tools, who dare not speak or write truth. I 
am not sorry that my connexion with them is at an end. In 
the course of that connexion I ran ten chances of ruin and 
dishonor for one of reputation ; and all the honors or profit 
that France could bestow should not tempt me again to uu- 



191 

dertake the same service with an armament equally ill com- 
posed, and with powers equally limited. It affords me the 
most exalted pleasure to reflect, that, when I return to Ame- 
rica, I can say that I have served in Europe at my own ex- 
pense, and without the fee or reward of a court. When the 
prisoners we have taken are safely lodged in France, I shall 
have no further business in Europe, as the liberty of all our 
fellow citizens who now suffer in English prisons will then 
be secured; and I shall hope hereafter to be usefully employ- 
ed under the immediate direction of the Congress." 

Jones was a man of ardent temperament, felt the value 
of his own talents, and was restless under the least appear- 
ance of indifference towards him. He did not justly esti- 
mate the obstacles which the French ministry had to remove 
in assigning to him the honorable command which he had 
already held. He was a foreigner, and the officers of the 
French navy must have had their prejudices against him. 
Many of them longed for employment as well as Jones, and 
putting in their claims to a preference on account of rank 
and nativity, was no doubt the principal cause of that ne- 
glect of which he complained. He, nevertheless, retained 
the esteem of the king, and of the most enlightened of his 
subjects, who felt the benefit, both to America and France, 
of the splendid services of the Commodore. 

Commodore Jones at length departed from the Texel, and 
arrived at Corogne, about the middle of January 1778. 
when he immediately wrote to General Lafayette the follow- 
ing letter. His skill and hardihood in eluding the vigilance 
of the squadron by which he was blockaded, and in braving 
the dangers of the British Channel, were conspicuous, and 
he speaks of his good fortune in his usual strain of manli- 
ness and naval gallantry : — 

Alliance^ Corogne^ Jan. 16th, 1780. 

The Hon. Marquis De La Fayette. 

Notwithstanding my hopes of leaving the Texel, imme- 
diately after I had the honor of writing to my noble friend 
on the 30th of November, a letter, of which the within is a 
copy, yet I was detained in that detestable road until the 
27th of December. I made my passage safe through the 
Channel in spite of all their cruising ships and squadrons, 
and had the pleasure of looking at them in the Downs, and of 
passing in sight of the Isle of Wight, &;c. I steered this way 



19i! 

Jii hopes of meeting some of their cruisers oti" Cape Finis- 
terre, but am hitherto disappointed. It being very stormy 
weather I this evening anchored here, where 1 mean only to 
scrub the bottom and take a httle fresh water, after which, 
I purpose to cruise towards France, and on my arrival at 
L'Orient I shall be happy to hear from you again. 

Since my last to you while I remained at the Texel, I 
was greatly astonished, and indeed mortified at a proposi- 
tion from court, communicated to me by the Due de Vau- 
giiyon ; his Excellency afterward on the 21st of December, 
wrote me a most affectionate letter, a copy with my answer 
is enclosed. I shall make no remark, but leave you, 
my dear Marquis, to judge of my feelings, and how much I 
must have been shocked at the treatment I received from 
the court, particularly in the Texel. I am always with the 
most lively affection and esteem, Yours, &;c. 

I remember this letter to me. Lafayette. 

Washington City, February, 1825. 

On the 28th of January the Commodore sailed from Co- 
logne, and after a short cruise, which is explained in the 
annexed letter to Dr. Franklin, he arrived at Groaix on the 
10th of February, when he left the Alliance, and, on account 
of impaired health, went up to L'Orient : — 

V Orient, Feb, 13th, 1780. 

His Excellency Benjamin Franklin. 
Hon. and Dear Sir, 

I had the pleasure of writing to your Excellency on my 
arrival at Corogne. Having refreshed my people, and 
shunned a gale of wind in that port I sailed again the 28th 
ult. 1 took a turn to the westward of Cape Finisterre in 
hopes of intercepting some of the enemy's ships, but with- 
out success, and meeting with Mr. Haywood in the Living- 
ston on his return from Virginia, 1 thought it my duty to 
take him under convoy. On the passage from Boston for 
Brest the Alliance was broached too and very near being 
lost. In that situation the sea struck^with such violence 
against the head that the cutwater was wrenched consider- 
ably out of its place. When the ship was hove down here 
it would have been an easy matter to have secured the 
head. I did not however, then know the circumstance, nor 
did my health permit me to attend, and as I understood. 



Capt. Landais only ordered the part of the euiwaier tliajl 
projected on one side of the stem to be dubbed otF. When 
he parted from me off the west of Ireland and again in the 
North Sea, the Alliance was steered in the trough of the 
swell so that the ship was greatly fatigued in every part, 
but particularly in the cutwater, which was much loosened. 
At the Texel we did all that was possible in such a road to 
secure the head, but notwithstanding, it became necessary 
to lash it with an hauser after we got clear of the channel. 
This was of course an inducement for me to steer sooner 
for this port than I had otherwise proposed, though I had yet 
other reasons. Among these 1 may mention that 1 have 
found it impossible to regain the trim of the ship without 
altering the arrangement of the ballast, which I understand 
Captain Landais has extended along the ceiling from the stern- 
post to the stem ; an idea, that I believe he may without 
vanity call his own. Besides to my great surprise there is 
not a good sail, nor I may almost say a good rope in the Al- 
liance. Even the cables were in so wretched a condition 
that had it not been for a timely supply of three new ones 
that I ordered from Amsterdam, I should infallibly have lost 
the ship in the severe weather I found at the Texel. In short 
the situation in which I found the Alliance appears to me t& 
have been the effect of slothfulness and ignorance. I pro- 
cured a second anchor at Corogne, and we arrived at 
Groaix on the 10th, where the ship still remains, the wind 
not permitting her to enter the harbor. From my late 
fatigues my health is rather impaired, and being also when 
we anchored almost blind with sore eyes, I the next evening 
came up here at the desire of my friends. I have found 
some benefit from the change of air, otherwise I could not 
now have seen to write. 

As soon as the ship can be brought into Port Louis We 
shall begin to refit without loss of time. The head, in my 
opinion, cannot be secured without heaving down, therefore 
I wish it could be afforded to sheathe the bottom with cop- 
per, as the ship would be doubly serviceable afterward. 

I ordered some canvass and cordage from Amsterdam 
which did not appear before I left the Texel, nor is yet ar- 
rived here. As I suppose M. de Neufville means to send 
these articles after me, perhaps you will now see fit to con- 
tradict the order, as I am assured they can be had on as 
Cfisy terms here. I wish to know if I am to apply here, as 

R b 



i do in the meaii-lime to Messrs. Gourlade and Moylan : and 
the Serapis bein^ arrived here, I wish she could be made the 
property of America. 

I have the honor to be always with the highest respect, 
and most aflfectionate esteem, 

Your Excellency's most obliged, &c. 

At L' Orient the Commodore learned that rumors were 
circulated to his disadvantage, that he did not like the French 
nation ; in consequence of which he addressed letters to the 
Marquis de la Fayette and to the Duke de la Vauguyon, 
Avherein he explains his principles, and vindicates his cha- 
racter. These letters place Jones in a very amiable light, 
demonstrating that he was not only a valiant captain and a 
person of enlarged views, but one who felt the miseries in- 
cident to war, and was desirous of a durable peace on just 
■grounds, as the main object of the contest : 

V Orient, February 18th, 1780. 

The Hon. General M. le Marquis > 
DE La Fayette, &c. 3 

I had, dear Marquis, the honor to write you sundry letters 
before I left the Texel : I also wrote you on my arrival at 
Corogne. I arrived at Groaix the 10th, and landed here the 
day after, almost blind with sore eyes, and not otherwise in 
a very good state of health. I am now a little recovered, 
but it is with difficulty that I can yet look on paper ; — there- 
fore I should not at this instant have taken up my pen, had 
I not this day understood by a friend that my attachment 
and esteem for this nation had been called in question. 

Withdrawn as I am atpresent from the public attention,and 
having endeavoured only by my past conduct to prove my zeal 
for the common cause, it is strange that I cannot escape the 
malicious attacks of little minds. If any person who has him- 
self deserved well of kis country, can accuse me of ingra- 
titude, let him step forth like a man, and I will answer in 
homme d'honneur. M. Wiebert has, I understand, taken, 
great pains to promulgate that I do not love France. He 
is not surely among the most worthy part of the nation, yet 
he partook both of my purse and my table, till the moment 
of separation, after I had provided for him a free passage in 
a ship destined for America, from a situation where he had 
but little danger to apprehend from the enemy. 



^o come to the point, here follows my political profession, 
I am a citizen of the world, totally unfettered by the little 
mean distinctions of country or of climate ; which diminish 
or set bounds to the benevolence of the heart. Impelled 
by principles of gratitude and philanthropy, I drew my sword 
at the beginning of the American Revolution, and when 
France so nobly espoused that great cause, no individual felt 
the obhgation with truer gratitude than myself. When the 
Court of France soon after invited me to remain for a time 
in Europe, I considered myself as highly honored by the ap- 
plication that was made to the American commissioners. 
Since that time I have been at every instant, and I still am 
ready to do my utmost for the good of the common cause 
of France and America. As an American officer, and as a 
man I affectionately love and respect the character and na- 
tion of France, and hope the alliance with America may 
last for ever. I owe the greatest obligation to the generous 
praises of the French nation on my past conduct, and shall 
be happy to merit future favor. I greatly love and esteem 
his most Christian Majesty as the great ally of America, the 
best of kings, and the amiable friend and "protector of the 
rights of human nature," therefore he has very few of his 
own subjects who would bleed in his present cause, with 
greater freedom than myself, and none who are more disin- 
terested. At the same time I lament the calamities of war, 
and wish above all things for an honorable, happy, and lasting 
peace. My fortune is not augmented by the part I have 
hitherto acted in the revolution, (although I have had fre- 
quent opportunities of acquiring riches,) and I pledge myself 
to the worthy part of mankind, that my future conduct in 
the war shall not forfeit their good opinion. I am ever with 
great and sincere affection, happy in your friendship, &c. 

I remember such a letter being received. 
Washington City, February 1825. La Fayette. 

V Orient, February IBth, 1780. 
His Excellency M. le duc De Vauguyon. 

My Lord, 
I had the honor of writing to your Excellency, a day or 
two before! left the Texel, in answer to your very kind let- 
ter on the subject of my discontent. I sent my letter to the 
Helder by my pilot, to the care of M. le Chevalier de Li- 
rencourt, and I hope it came safe to your hands. I have 
been here since the 1 0th of this month, but being ajmoist 



196 

Vlind with sore ej'es,! could not sooner look on paper, other- 
wise I should not have failed to repeat how much 1 feel the 
obligation conferred on me by your attentions while I re- 
mained in Holland. 

There are, my Lord, some of my secret enemies, base 
enough to insinuate that 1 do not love the nation of France; 
but be assured that though 1 felt myself hurt by some mea- 
sures that were adopted towards me, and for which I can- 
not yet see any good reason, yet I have never written, spoken, 
or even thought disrespectfully of the nation. On the con- 
trary I owe the greatest obligation to France for the gene- 
rous friendship of the nation towards America, and for the 
generous praises bestowed on my late conduct, which I 
should be very happy to merit, by future services in the 
common cause. Above all as an individual I am deeply 
sensible of the great honor conferred on me by the personal 
esteem and approbation of the best of kings. I shall through 
life be happy in every circumstance where I can manifest 
l)ow much I wish to merit his Majesty's good opinion ; and 
when I thank you in particular, my lord, for the affectionate 
manner in which you communicated to me his Majesty's 
sentiments in my favor, I speak not words without meaning, 
but my heart overflows with gratitude, and will ever be am- 
bitious to merit your friendship. 

« I am with an artless sincerity, my lord, &€. 

By Si preceding letter from Commodore Jones, it will have 
been observed that the Alliance required many repairs. — 
Dr. FrankUn had expected that these would have been made 
without loss of time, and wrote to Jones accordingly, hi 
the following letters the cause of the delay will be shewn, 
and that no blame could be properly ascribed to the Com- 
modore : 

«^ 

Passy, February \2th, 1780. 

Honorable Capt. Jones. 
Dear Sir, 

I received yours from Corogne of the 1 6th past, and from 
L'Orient of the 13th inst. I rejoice that you are safely ar- 
rived in France, malgre all the pains taken to intercept you. 

As to refitting your ship at the expense of this court, I 
must acquaint you that there is not the least probability of 
obtaining it, and therefore I cannot ask it. I hear too much 
already of the extraordinary expense you made in Holland 



197 

to think ot proposing an addition to it, especially as you 
seem to impute the damage she has sustained more to Capt. 
Landais' negligence than to accidents of the cruise. The 
whole expense will therefore fall upon me, and I am ill pro- 
vided to bear it, having so many unexpected calls upon me 
from all quarters. I therefore beg you would have mercy 
on me, put me to as little charge as possible, and take no- 
thing that you can possibly do without. As to sheathing 
with copper, it is totally out of the question. I am not au- 
thorized to do it, if I had money ; and I have not money 
for it, if I had orders. The purchase of the Serapis is in 
the same predicament. 1 believe the sending canvass and 
cordage from Amsterdam has already been forbidden; if 
not, i shall forbid it. 1 approve of your applying to Messrs. 
Gourlade and Moyian for what repairs you want, having an 
exceeding good opinion of those gentlemen ; but let me re- 
peat it, for God's sake be sparing, unless you mean to make 
me a bankrupt, or have your drafts dishonored, for want of 
money in my hands to pay them. 

We are likely to obtain 15,000 stand of good arms from 
the government. They are much wanted in America. M, 
de la Fayette has just now proposed that you should take 
them as ballast. You know best if this is practicable. 

Mr. Ross acquaints me that he has 1 20 bales of public 
eloth for our army, and wishes it may likewise go in the 
Alliance. Can this be done ? It is undoubtedly an article 
of great necessity ; but I have mentioned to him, the room 
required in a ship of war for the men, their provisions, wa- 
ter, (Stc, and the difficulty thence of finding place for goods. 
You will judge of this likewise. 

Mr. Ross also requests to be permitted to take his pas- 
sage with you. As he has been a servant of the States in 
making their purchases in Europe, it seems to me that it 
would be wrong to refuse him. There is also a particular 
friend of mine, Mr. Samuel Wharton, of Philadelphia, who 
desires to go with you. These gentlemen will doubtless lay 
in their own stores, and pay as customary for their accom- 
modations ; and I am persuaded you will find them agreea- 
ble company. 

Mr. Lee and Mr. Izard propose also to take their passa- 
ges in your ship, whom I hope you can likewise accommo- 
date. Pray write me immediately your sentiments on these 
particulars, and let me know at the same time when you 
think you can be ready, that I may forward my despatches* 



1 am glad to hear that your indisposition is wearing otiC. 
I hope your health will soon be re-established, being, with 
sincere esteem, Dear Sir, 

Your most obedient and most humble servant, 

B. Franklin. 

VOrient, February '2,5th, 1780. 
His Excellency Benjamin Franklin. 

I am honored with your Excellency's letter of the 19th, 
I feel your reasons for urging frugality, and as 1 have not 
hitherto been among the most extravagant servants of Ame- 
rica, so you may depend on it my regard for you will make 
me particularly nice in my present situation. It will give 
me very great pleasure to be able to carry to America the 
supplies of arms and clothing you mention, and 1 hope to be 
able to cram a great part, if not the whole, into the Alliance. 
Should any remain, I hope Capt. Bell will be able to take 
them on board the Luzern, and it is likely that he will sail 
with the Alliance. I will pay the most cheerful regard to 
the accommodation of the four gentlemen that you mention 
as passengers. I hope they will agree together, and I shall 
be happy in shewing them attentions. I am in the greatest 
want of a lieutenant. 

With the most affectionate respect and esteem, 

I am your Excellency's very obliged, humble servant. 

Passy, June I si, 1780. 

The Honorable Commodore Jones, Commander of the } 

Alliance frigate, in the service of the United States. 5 

Sir, 
I have received a letter from the Board of Admiralty, 
containing their orders for the return of the Alliance, a copy 
of which is annexed for your government ; and I hereby di- 
rect that you carry the same into execution with all possible 
expedition. 

With great regard, I am, Sir, 

Your most obedient and most humble servant, 

B. Franklin. 

Board of Admiralty, ) 

Philadelphia, March 28th, 1780.> 
His Excellency Benjamin Franklin. 

Sir, 
By the annexed list you will perceive the present dispo- 
^iition of the continental navy in North America. The dc- 



I'M 

tachment of tour ships to guard the harbor of Charlestovni 
has subjected our coasts to the depredations of the enemy's 
armed vessels from New-York, who of late have frequently 
appeared in our bays and made many captures. 

For these reasons the Board think it will be necessary 
that the frigate Alliance should be forthwith ordered to pro- 
ceed for this port, and should any supplies for our navy be 
ready in France, a part may be sent in the Alliance, and the 
residue in other armed vessels under her convoy. 
I have the honor to be, 

Your Excellency's most obedient servant, 
By order. Fra. Lewis. 

P. S. The Board would be highly obliged to your Excel- 
lency to send them a set of drafts of the new ships in the 
royal navy of France, for the use of our master builders. 

In writing to the President of Congress, on the 4th of 
March, 1780, Dr. Franklin informs Mr. Huntington that the 
Commodore was to return to America in the Alliance, and 
elucidates the course that had been taken with respect to 
the exchange of prisoners captured by Jones : 

Passy, March 4th, 1780. "* 
Samuel Huntington, Esq. President of Congress. 

Sir, 
In my last I gave some account of the success of our little 
squadron under Commodore Jones. Three of their prizes 
sent into Bergen, in Norway, were, at the instance of the 
British minister, seized by order of the Court of Denmark, 
and delivered up to him. I have, with the approbation of 
the ministry here, drawn up and sent to that court a memo- 
rial reclaiming the prizes. In the absence of Capt. Landais 
from the Alliance, Commodore Jones took command of her, 
and on quitting the Texel made a cruise through the chan- 
nel to Spain, and is since returned to L'Orient, where the 
ship is now refitting, in order to return to America. Capt. 
Landais had not applied to me to be replaced in her, and I 
imagine has no thought of that kind, having before, on seve- 
ral occasions, expressed to me and others his dissatisfaction 
with his officers, and his inclination on that account to quit 
her. Capt. Jones will, therefore, carry her home, unless 
he should be prevailed with to enter another service, which, 
however, I think is not likely; though he has gained im- 



wo 

ineuse reputation all over Europe for his braver)'* Wheu 
the squadron of Commodore Jones arrived in the Texel 
with 500 English prisoners, I proposed exchanging there, 
but this was dechned, in expectation, as I heard from Eng- 
land, of retaking them on their way to France. The stay 
of our ships in Holland, through the favor of the States, be- 
ing prolonged, and the squadrons being stationed to intercept 
us, being tired of cruising for us, the British ministry consent- 
ed at length to a cartel with France, and brought French- 
men to Holland to exchange for these prisoners, instead of 
Americans. These proceedings have occasioned our poor 
people to be kept longer in confinement ; but the minister 
of marine having given orders that I shall have as many" 
English, another cartel charged with Americans, is now 
daily expected, and I hope in a few months to see them all 
at liberty. I have the honor to be, &c. 

B. Franklin. 

On his visit to Paris the Commodore seems to have en- 
joyed the esteem of the French sovereign in a higher de- 
gree than ever. He was received with the utmost distinc- 
fioii at court, and the following letter from M. de Sartine to 
the President of Congress, testifies that the king voluntarily 
presented him with a superb sword, and proposed to Con- 
gress to decorate him with the order of Military Merit ; a 
proposition which that body assented to : 

From M. De Sartine, to Mr. Huntington, President of 
the Congress of the United States. 

Versailles, May 30th, 1 780. 
Commodore Paul Jones, after having shewn to all Eu- 
rope, and particularly to the enemies of France and the 
United States, the most unquestionable proofs of his valor 
and talents, is about returning to America to give an ac- 
count to Congress of the success of his military operations, 
I am convinced. Sir, that the reputation he has so justly ac- 
quired will precede him, and that the recital of his actions 
alone will suffice to prove to his fellow citizens that his abi- 
lities are equal to his courage. But the king has thought 
proper to add his stitTrage and attention to the public opi- 
nion. He has expressly charged me to inform you how per- 
fectly he is satisfied with the services of the Commodore, per- 
suaded that Congress will render hinj the same justice. He 



20 i 

has offered, as a proof of his esteem, to present liim with 
a sword which cannot be placed in better hands, and like- 
wise proposes to Congress to decorate this brave officer 
with the cross of Military Merit. His Majesty conceives 
that this particular distinction, by holding Yorth the same 
honors to the two nations, united by the same interests, will 
be looked upon as one tie more that connects them, and 
will support that emulation which is so precious to the com- 
mon cause. If, after having approved the conduct of the 
Commodore, it should be thought proper to give him the 
command of any new expedition to Europe his Majesty 
will receive him again with pleasure, and presumes that 
Congress will oppose nothing that may be judged expedient 
to secure the success of his enterprises. My personal 
esteem for him induces me to recommend him very particu- 
larly to you, Sir, and I dare flatter myself that the reception 
he will receive from Congress and you, will warrant the 
sentiments with which he has inspired me. 

I have the honor of being, &c. 

De Sartine. 

The following resolution of Congress, shews the sense of 
that exalted body, of the services rendered by Commodore 
Jones, and permits his acceptance of the cross of Military 
Merit offered to him by His Most Christian Majesty : 

In Congress, Feb. 27th, 1781. 

The committee to whom was referred the letter of May 
30th, 1780, from M. de Sartine, delivered in a report> 
whereupon, 

Resolved, That the Congress entertain a high sense of the 
distinguished bravery and military conduct of John Paul 
Jones, Esq., captain in the navy of the United States, and 
particularly in his victory over the British frigate Serapis 
on the coast of England, which was attended with circum- 
stances so brilliant as to excite general applause and admi- 
ration : 

That the minister plenipotentiary of these United States 
at the court of Versailles, communicate to His Most Chris- 
tian Majesty the high satisfaction Congress have received from 
the conduct and gallant behavior of Captain John Paul Jones, 
which have merited the attention and approbation of His 
Most Christian Majesty, and that his Majestv's offer of ador- 

Co 



202 

ning Captain Jones with a cross of Military Merit is highly 
acceptable to Congress. 
Extract from the minutes. 

C. Thompson, Secretary, 

In consequence, M. de la Luzerne gave a fete to all the 
members of Congress, and to the principal inhabitants of 
Philadelphia, and in their presence, he, in the name of His 
Majesty, invested the Commodore with the order of Milita- 
ry Merit. 

The naval means of America, in 1780, were exceedingly 
limited, and the necessity of detaching four ships to guard 
the harbor of Charleston, rendered it expedient to recal the 
Alliance to the United States, to aid in the protection of the 
coasts from the depredations of the enemy's armed vessels, 
especially from New- York, whence they cruised in the bays 
of the continent, making a number of captures. An order 
was despatched by the Board of Admiralty, on the 28th of 
March, 1780, to our minister in France, to send the Alli- 
ance home, which order Dr. Franklin communicated to 
Commodore Jones on the 1st of June, 1780. On the same 
day, that minister prepared and gave to the Commodore, 
the annexed unequivocal letter of approbation : 

Passy^ June I, 1780. 

Samuel Huntington, Esq. President of Congress. 
Sir, 

Commodore Jones, who by his bravery and conduct has 
done great honor to the American flag, desires to have that 
also, of presenting a line to the hands of your Excellency. 
I cheerfully comply with his request, in recommending him 
to the notice of Congress, and to your Excellency's protec- 
tion, though his actions are more effectual recommenda- 
tions, and render any from me unnecessary. It gives me, 
however, an opportunity of shewing my readiness to do jus- 
tice to merit, and of professing the esteem and respect with 
which I am, &c. B. Franklin. 

On the 30th of May, Dr. Franklin had written to M. de 
Sartine, for the purpose of ascertaining whether his Majesty 
would consent that one of his vessels should accompany the 
Alliance, for the conveyance of supplies for the United 
States. In reply, on the 30th of June, M. de Sartine inti- 
mated the King's willingness, and assured the American mi- 



203 

iiister that directions had been given at L'Orient to afibrd 
to Commodore Jones every facility that he might require 
for his armament and departure. The Commodore had 
stated to M. de Sartine, that seamen for the additional ves- 
sel might be obtained from the Alliance. 

On the 28th of June, 1780, M. de Sartine addressed a 
very flattering letter to Commodore Jones, apprising him 
that the cross of the institution of Military Merit, agreea- 
bly to the King's previous determination, was enclosed in a 
despatch to M. de la Luzerne, the minister of France, near 
the United States, of which Jones was to be the bearer, and 
with which cross he was to be invested, by a chevalier of 
the order, as soon as Congress had assented to his accept- 
ance of it. M. de Sartine likewise informed him that His 
Majesty had directed a golden headed sword to be made for 
him, which would be immediately delivered to him. The 
letter is in the following words : 

Versailles, Jtme 28fA, 1780. 
Mr. Paul Jones, Commodore in the Navy of the United 
States of America. 
Sir, 
The King has already testified his approbation of the zeai 
and valor which you have displayed in Europe, in support 
of the common cause between the United States and His 
Majesty, and he has also informed you of the distinguished 
proofs he is disposed to give you thereof. Persuaded that 
the United States will give their consent that you should 
receive the cross of the institution of Military Merit, I send 
you in the packet addressed to M. de la Luzerne, the one 
designed for you. You will be pleased to deliver hini 
this packet, and he will confer on you this distinction 
by a chevalier of the institution, agreeably to His Majes- 
ty's orders. But at any rate that you should have a proof 
of the King's approbation and munificence. His Majesty ha;s 
ordered a gold headed sword to be made for you, which 
will be immediately delivered to you, and he has the great- 
est confidence in the use you will make of it for his glorv 
and that of the United States. I have the honor, &:c. 

De Sartine. 

Commodore Jones was extremely grateful for the marks 
of distinction thus conferred upon him, and expressed his 
feelings in the most fervent manner in his cnrrespondenm 



204 

with his friends. To one of them, Mr. Genet, he wrote 
under date of the 19th of July, 1780, " I am bound by gra- 
titude and honor to give every proof in my power of my 
affection to France. Tell M. de Sartine, and the rest of 
the King's ministers, that I would rather be shot to death 
than suffered to pine away in idleness, while our glorious 
cause is undetermined. I shall not die happy, unless they 
give me an opportunity to prove by my actions, how much 
I wish always to merit the favor of the King, his ministers, 
and the nation. My best wishes will ever attend my 
friends in this kingdom, for their liberal minds do honor to 
human nature." 

Arrived at L'Orient from Paris, Jones found that Lan- 
dais, who seemed to be his evil genius, had in his absence, 
excited a refractory disposition in the crew of the Alliance, 
which had the effect of preventing the Commodore from 
taking the command of that frigate, and obliged him to sail 
for America on board the Ariel. The board of Admiralty 
afterward took cognizance of tlie dispute between Commo- 
dore Jones and Captain Landais ; and having propounded 
questions to Dr. Franklin, in order to elicit information, 
that minister answered them, explained the circumstances 
which had occasioned so much chagrin to Jones, and pro- 
duced the unprofitable dissensions between him, Landais, 
and the crew of the Alliance. With his answers was for- 
warded a copy of tlie " concordat,^'' the signing of which 
.Tones so deeply regretted, and from which sprung almost 
all his disagreements with Captain Landais, and M. Le Ray 
de Chaumont. The former, he conceived, had availed him- 
self of the community of interests established by the " con- 
cordat,^^ to treat his orders with contempt, and the latter he 
thought had not acted correctly towards him in relation to 
the prizes taken from the enemy. In illustrating more par- 
ticularly the sources of all the Commodore's disquietudes, a 
date is here anticipated, to lay at once before the reader 
Dr. Franklin's letter and answers to the board of Admiralty, 
and a copy of the " concordat,'''' which will render more in- 
telligible the allusions in some of Jones's letters written 
previously to that of Dr. Franklin to Francis Lewis, Esq. 

Francis Lewis, Esq., and the Board of Admiralty. 
# Gentlemen, Passy, March l7th,]7Sl. 

I received the honor of yours, dated January the 3d, 
containing sundry questions relative to the ship Alliance. 



20^ 

and the expedition under the command of John Paul 
Jones, Esq. 

I would remark as to the expedition in general that this 
court having, I suppose, some enterprise in view, which 
Captain Jones, who had signalized his bravery in taking the 
Drake, was thought a proper person to conduct, had soon 
after the action requested we would spare him to them, 
which was the more readily agreed to, as a difference sub- 
sisted between him and his lieutenant, which laid us under 
a difficulty that was by this means got over. Some time 
passed, however, before any steps were taken to employ 
him in a manner agreeable to him, and possibly, the first 
project was laid aside, many difficulties attending any at- 
tempt of introducing a foreign officer into the French ma- 
rine, as it disturbs the order of their promotion, &;c., and he 
himself choosing to act rather under the commission of Con- 
gress. However, a project was at length found, by fur- . 
nishing him with some of the King's ships, the officers of 
which were to have temporary American commissions, 
which being posterior in date to his commission, would put 
them naturally under his command for the time, and the 
final intention, after various changes was to intercept the 
Baltic fleet : the Alliance was, at that time under orders to 
carry Mr. Adams back to America, but the minister of the 
marine, by a written letter, requesting I would lend her to 
strengthen the little squadron, and offering a passage to Mr. 
Adams in one of the King's ships, I consented to their re- 
quest, hoping that, besides obliging the minister, I might 
obtain the disposition of some prisoners, to exchange for our 
countrymen in England. 

Questions of the Admiralty Board, respecting the squadron 
under the Chevalier John Paul Jones, answered. 

Ques. Whether any agreement was made by you, or any 
person in your behalf, with the owners of the ships, con- 
certed with the Alliance, in that expedition, respecting the 
shares they were severally to draw, of the prizes which 
might be taken during that expedition ? 

Jins. I never made such an agreement, nor any person in 
my behalf. I lent the Alliance to the King, simply at the 
minister's request, supposing it would be agreeable to Con- 
gress to oblige their ally ; and that the division, if there 
should be any thing to divide, would be according to the 



20G 

laws of France, or of America, as should be found mosl 
equitable. But the Captains before they sailed, entered in- 
to an agreement, called the concordat, to divide according 
to the rules of America, as they acted under American com- 
missions and colors. 

Ques, What orders were given to Captain Landais ? 

Ans. That he should obey the orders of Capt. Jones. 

Ques. What was the ground of the disputes between 
Captain Jones and him? 

Arts. That when at sea together, he refused to obey 
Captain Jones's orders. 

Ques. Why did the Alliance lay so long at Port L'Orient 
after her arrival there from the Texel, and in general every 
information in your power respecting the Alliance and the 
expedition referred to ? 

Jlns. Her laying so long at L'Orient was first occasioned by 
the mutinous disposition of the officers and men, who refused 
to raise the anchors until they should receive wages and 
prize money. I did not conceive they had a right to demand 
payment of wages in a foreign country, or any where but at 
the port they came from, no one here knowing on what terms 
they were engaged, what they had received, or what was 
due to them. The prize money I wished them to have, 
but as that could not soon be obtained, 1 thought it wrong 
in them to detain the vessel on that account, and as I was 
informed many of them were in want of necessaries, I ad- 
vanced 24,000 livres on account, and put it into Captain 
Jones's hands to relieve and pacify them, that they might go 
more willingly. But they were encouraged by some med- 
dling passengers to persist. The King would have taken the 
prizes, and paid for them, at the rate per gun, &c., as he pays 
for warlike vessels taken by his ships, but they raised a 
clamor at this, it being put into their heads that it was a 
project for cheating them, and they demanded a sale by 
auction. The minister, who usually gives more, when ships 
are taken for the King, than they will produce by auction, 
readily consented to this, when I asked it of him ; but then 
this method required time to have them inventoried, adver- 
tised in different ports, to create a fuller concurrence of 
buyers, <Sic. ; Captain Jones came up to Paris, to hasten the 
proceedings, in his absence Captain Landais, by the advice 
of Mr. Lee and Com. Gillon, took possession of the ship, 
and kept her long in writing up to Paris, waiting an- 
swers. &IC. 



207 

As the ministry had reasons, if some of the tirst plans had 
been pursued, to wish the expedition might be understood as 
American, the instructions were to be given by me, and the 
outfit was committed to Monsieur de Chaumont, known to 
be one of our friends, and well acquainted with such affairs. 
Monsieur le Marquis de la Fayette, who was to have been 
concerned in the execution, can probably acquaint you 
with those reasons ; if not, I shall do it hereafter. It after- 
ward continued in the hands of M. de Chaumont to the 
end. I never paid or received a farthing, directly or indi- 
rectly, on account of the expedition ; and the captains hav- 
ing made him their trustee and agent, it is to him they are 
to apply for their proportions of the captures. 

Concordat made between Captain John Paul Jones and 
the officers of the squadron. 

Agreement between Messieurs John Paul Jones, captain 
of the Bon homme Richard ; Pierre Landais, captain of the 
Alliance ; Dennis Nicolas Cottineau, captain of the Pallas ; 
Joseph Verage, captain of the Stagg ; and Phihp Nicolas 
Ricot, captain of the Vengeance ; composing a squadron 
that shall be commanded by the oldest officer of the highest 
grade, and so on in succession in case of death or retreat. 
None of the said commanders, whilst they are not separa- 
ted from the said squadron, by order of the minister shall act 
but by virtue of the brevet, which they shall have obtained 
from the United States of America, and it is agreed that the 
flag of the United States shall be displayed. 

The division of the prizes to the superior officers and 
crews of the said squadron, shall be made agreeable to the 
American laws ; but it is agreed, that the proportion of the 
whole, coming to each vessel in the squadron, shall be regu- 
lated by the Minister of the marine department of France, 
and the Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of 
America. 

A copy of the American laws shall be annexed to the 
present agreement, after having been certified by the com- 
mander of the Bon homme Richard ; but as the said laws 
cannot foresee nor determine as to what may concern the 
vessels and subjects of other nations, it is expressly agreed, 
that whatever may be contrary to them should be regulated 
by the Minister of the French marine, and the Minister 
Plenipotentiary of the United States of America. 



ft is likewise agreed that the orders given by the Minister 
of the French Marine, and the Minister Plenipotentiary of 
the United States shall be executed. 

Considering the necessity there is of preserving the in- 
terests of each individual, the prizes that shall be taken shall 
be remitted to the orders of Monsieur Le Ray de Chau- 
mont, honorary intendant of the Royal Hotel of Invalids, 
who has furnished the expenses of the armament of the said 
squadron. 

It has been agreed, that M. le Ray de Chaumont be re- 
quested not to give up the part of the prizes coming to all 
the crews, and to each individual of the said squadron, but 
to their order, and to be responsible for the same in his own 
and proper name. 

Whereas the s^id squadron has been formed for the pur- 
pose of injuring the common enemies of France and Ame- 
rica, it has been agreed that such armed vessels, whether 
French or American, may be associated therewith by com- 
mon consent, as shall be found suitable for the purpose, 
and that they shall have such proportion of the prizes 
which shall be taken, as the laws of their respective coun- 
tries allow them. 

In case of the death of any of the before-mentioned com- 
manders of vessels, he shall be replaced agreeably to the or- 
der of the taritf, with liberty, however, for the successor to 
choose whether he will remain on board his own vessel, and 
give up to the next in order, the command of the vacant ship. 

It has moreover been agreed, that the commander of the 
Stag shall be excepted from the last article of this present 
agreement, because in case of a disaster to M. de Varage it 
shall be replaced by his second in command, and so on by 
the other officers of his cutter the Stag. 

J. P. Jones, 

P. Landais, 

De Cottineau, 

De Varage, 

Le Ray de Chaumont, 

P. RiCOT. 

The controversy between Commodore Jones and Captain-' 
Landais, respecting tlie command of the Alliance, was, as 
Jones beheved, secretly fomented by Mr. Arthur Lee, who, 
acting as an umpire in the case, assigned the command of 



209 

ihe frigate to Landais. The annexed letter from that gen? 
tleman to Commodore Jones will explain his avowed rea- 
sons for this preference : 

VOrient, June I3th, 1780. 

Captain J. P. Jones. 
Sir, 

When you shewed me yesterday the authorities under 
which you conceive you had a right to command the Alli- 
ance frigate, I told you it was not in my power to give you 
an opinion upon them without seeing those of Captain Lan- 
dais ; and that I would not give an opinion in this matter, 
but in writing. Since that I have seen the authorities of 
Captain Landail, and I now shall state them both, with my 
opinion upon them; which I hope ma)' be of use in pre- 
ventmg any farther contest, which cannot but be disgraceful 
and injurious to the :>ervice, as well as to those who are iu 
the wrong. 

The authorities you shewed me, consisted of a commission 
from Congress appointing you a captain in the marine of 
the United States, and a late order from Dr. Franklin to you 
to take command of the Alliance, and carry her where she 
is ordered by the Admiralty. This order from Dr. Frank- 
lin does not recite or allege any power from Congress to 
take the command from Captain Landais, and put another 
in his place. 

The authorities Captain Landais laid before me, were a 
commission from Congress, like yours, appointing him cap- 
tain in the service ; — a resolve %( Congress giving him the 
command of the Alliance frigate ; and a letter of instruc- 
tions for that purpose from the Marine Committee. 

From these documents it is clear, beyond a possibility of 
doubt, that Captain Landais commands that ship under the 
full, direct, and express order of Congress ; and that no such 
authority appears to dismiss him from the command. In 
this situation, Captain Landais must answer at his peril 
for the frigate entrusted to him till he receives an order of 
Congress to deliver her to another. If any such order exists, 
those who have it do infinite wrong to the service in not 
producing it, to prevent any disturbance. If there is no 
such order, the subjects of the United States who attempt 
to divest Captain Landais of the command he holds from 
the sovereign power, or to disturb him by violence in the 

Dd 






210 

exercise of it, commit a high crime against the laws and 80- 
Tereigtity of the United States and subject themselves to a 
proportionable punishment. 

This, Sir, is my opinion founded upon a cool and candid 
consideration of the authorities on both sides ; which alone 
ought to determine our judgment and our actions. Yoa 
are at liberty to shew this letter to whom you please, or to 
send it to Dr. Franklin. Should it prevail upon you to 
urge this matter no farther till you know whether there is 
authority of Congress for what you are doing, I shall think 
I have rendered no less service to you personally, in pre- 
venting you from committing a rash and illegal action, than 
to the public, the honor of which must be committed by 
such a contest in a foreign port. When I see such things 
threatened, my duty to my country, and the love of law and 
order, call upon me to do whatever is in my power to pre- 
vent them. 

I have the honor to be, &;c. 

Arthur Lee. 

Mr. Lee, however, was unquestionably in the wrong. 
Landais had resigned the command of the Alliance, had 
requested and obtained money from Dr. Franklin to repair 
to America, under the pretext of having his conduct inves- 
tigated, and Jones had received instructions both from Dr. 
Franklin and the court of France to carry the frigate back 
to the United States. An order, in fact, was issued by the 
French minister of marine to stop the sailing of the Alliance, 
if she attempted to proceed under the directions of Landais. 
But Commodore Jones, justly apprehending the conse- 
quences of violent measures, declined employing the means 
within his power to prevent her departure. Jones himself, 
attributed the partiality of Mr. Lee for Landais to impro- 
per motives. " I am convinced," said he in a letter to Mr. 
Morris, of the 27th of June, 1780, "that Mr. Lee has acted 
in this matter merely because I would not become the ene- 
my of the venerable, the wise, and good Franklin, whose 
heart and head does, and always will do honor to human 
nature. I know the great and good in this kingdom better, 
perhaps, than any other American who has appeared in Eu- 
rope since the treaty of alliance ; and if my testimony 
would add any thing to Franklin's reputation, I could wit- 
ness the universal veneration and esteem with which his 



211 

name inspires all ranks, not only at Versailles and all over 
this kingdom, but also in Spain and in Holland: aid i can 
add, from the testimony of the first characters of other na- 
tions, that, with him, envy itself is dumb, when the name of 
Pranklin is but mentioned." 

Dr. Franklin was aware of Mr. Lee's proceedings. He 
had given directions that he should have a passage home io 
America in the Alliance ; but, on learning that he had been 
instrumental in promoting disaffection among the crew, he 
wrote to Jones, revoking the order : 

PassT/, June 1 7tk, 1 780. 

Honorable Commodore Jones. 
Sir, 

Having been informed by several gentlemen of and from 
L'Orient, that it is there generally understood the meeting 
on board your ship has been advised or promoted by the 
honorable Arthur Lee, Esq. whom I had ordered you to re- 
ceive as a passenger ; I hereby withdraw that order, so far 
as to leave the execution of it to your discretion ; that if 
from the circumstances which have come to your knowledge, 
it should appear to you, that the peace and good govern- 
ment of the ship during the voyage may be endangered by 
his presence, you may decline taking that gentleman ; which 
I apprehend need not obstruct his return to America, as 
there are several ships going under your convoy, and no 
doubt many of their passengers may be prevailed with to 
change places. But if you judge these suspicions ground- 
less, you will comply with the order aforesaid. 

I have the honor to be, &c. 

B. Franklin, 

Jones was the more mortified at the delay which these 
bickerings occasioned in the sailing of the Alliance, as she 
had on board stores for the use of the United States, which 
were much wanted for the supply of the American army. 

In a letter to Madam T , of the 24th of July, 1780, 

he adverted to the affair between himself and Landais in 
the following manner : 

V Orient, July 2Ath, 1780. 
Madam, 
When you did me the honor to ask my promise to write 
to you a particular account of my services in this revoke 



^12 

tion and of my late expedition, I thought myself veryliappy 
indeed in enjoying that pleasing proof of your attention ; 
and it was my iirm intention to have fulfilled my promise 
with you on that head, immediately after my return here. 
Had 1 undertaken to write my own history to a lady of a 

less elevated mind than Madam T , I should have run 

too great a risk, especially in what relates to my last 
battle ; many circumstances of which are not yet known 
to the world, and are of such a nature as not to be believed 
by an ordinary mind upon the evidence of an individual. 
With you, Madam, I have not the remotest doubt, and the 
extraordinary event that took place here, with respect to 
the Alliance, is the only reason that has withheld my pen. 
I confess to you I feel rather ashamed that such an event 
should have happened ; although God knows it was not 
owing to any fault of mine. The true reason was, M. le 
Ray de Chaumont unjustly detained from the brave Ame- 
ricans who had so well served in the squadron under my 
command, not only their wages, but also their prize-money ; 
and he has not, even to this hour, given the means of pay- 
ing them their just claims. One or two envious persons 
here, taking advantage of these circumstances, persua- 
ded these poor people that I had joined with M. de Chau- 
mont to detain from them their just dues ; and that it was 
besides my intention to carry them on new expeditions in 
Europe, and not to suffer them to return to their families in 
America during the war. These insinuations were false and 
groundless. I had disapproved the conduct of M. le Ray 
de Chaumont so much as neither to speak nor write to him 
after my return to France. My sole business at court was 
to obtain the free sale of the prizes, which I effected. And 
far from being then bound on new expeditions in Europe, I 
was ordered by the Board of Admiralty in America to return 
forthwith to Congress, and had in consequence received the 
public despatches both from Mr. Franklin and the court. — 
The Alliance, however, was hurried out of this port before 
the crew had time for reflection ; yet before they sailed from 
the Road of Groaix many of them, seeing their error, refused 
to weigh anchor, and were carried to sea confined hands and 
feet in irons. The government of France had taken mea- 
sures to stop the ship, but 1 interposed, to prevent blood- 
shed between the subjects of the two allied nations. I am 
now again almost ready to sail in the Ariel, and I know soon 



213 

after my arrival in America, that Congress will render me 
impartial justice. I will then have the happiness to furnish 
you with the account I promised, and the circumstances will 
be supported by the fullest evidence. I dare promise that 
it will then appear that 1 have only been to blame for hav- 
ing returned here from Paris, without having insisted abso- 
lutely on the previous payment of my men. Money is 
essential in war : in love, you will tell me, perhaps, the case 
may be otherwise. I have still in contemplation to return 
to France soon after I arrive in America, for I have the most 
ardent desire to give the court, the nation, and my friends, 
farther proofs of my gratitude, by my services in the glori- 
ous cause of freedom that France has so nobly espoused in 
concert with America. The singular honors I have lately 
received from the King, have made the deepest and most 
lasting impression on my heart, and it shall be my constant 
care to deserve the continuance of His Majesty's esteem. 
Although my departure is near, yet I hope to have the 
honor of a letter from you before I sail. I hope my con- 
duct will always merit your good opinion, and that you will 
honor me in consequence with your attention, and permit 
me to consider you as one of my best friends. 

I am, Madam, with the most profound respect, yours, &c. 

As the name of the Alliance and that of Capt. Landais, 
have been frequently introduced into this volume, in con- 
nexion with the occurrences incident to the life of Commo- 
dore Jones, it may not be unacceptable to the reader to be 
made more particularly acquainted with the history of the 
captain and of the ship. The only account of the former, 
within the reach of the author, is from the pen of Commo- 
dore Jones ; and, as it is from that source, should be recei- 
ved with some degree of caution. In a memorandum, dated 
at Versailles, on the 17th of June, 1780, Jones stated, that, 
" When the treaty of alliance with France arrived in Ame- 
rica, Congress, feeling the most lively sentiments of grati- 
tude towards France, thought how they might manifest the 
satisfaction of the continent by some public act. The finest 
frigate in the service was on the stocks, ready to be launch- 
ed, and it was resolved to call her the Alliance. M. L^-.n- 
dais, a French subject", who had then arrived in America 
from France, as master of a merchant ship laden with pub- 
lic stores, had reported that he had been a captain in the 



214 

loyal navj of France, had commanded a ship of the hnc, 
been a chief officei* of the port of Brest, and was of such 
worth and estimation for his great abihties that he could 
have had any honors or advancement in his own country 
that he pleased to accept ; but that his desire to serve Ame- 
rica had induced him to leave his own country, and even 
to refuse to receive the Cross of St. Louis, that he might be 
at liberty to abjure the religion of his forefathers, which he 
did accordingly. Congress, believing M. Landais to be ia 
high esteem at the Court of Versailles, and thinking, with 
reason, that it would give pleasure to His Majesty to 6nd 
that one of his worthy subjects had been treated with dis- 
tinction in America, appointed him captain of the Alliance." 

Capt. Landais was well known to the citizens of the Uni- 
ted States, especially during the latter years of his life. He 
died on Long-Island, in the state of New- York. For a con- 
siderable time prior to his death, he was an annual petition- 
er to Congress, on whose sessions he often attended, to urge 
his claim for indemnity, on account of his portion of the 
prize-money which ought to have accrued from three prizes 
sent into Norway, whilst he was in command of the Alli- 
ance in Europe. His temper, even in old age, appeared to 
be severe ; for whilst at Washington, he could not avoid be- 
traying his irritability. A remarkable instance of this un- 
happy constitutional excitability is related of him with re- 
spect to a member of Congress, who had spoken rather 
slightingly of him. Landais dressed himself in his uniform, 
with a small sword by his side, and repaired to the gallery 
of the House of Representatives, when in session ; indica- 
ting thereby, as well as in conversation with his acquaintan- 
ces, that he was prepared to give any gentleman satisfaction 
who might be offended with him. He afterward observed, 
quoting a remark ascribed to Henry IV. of France, that 
" if there was bad blood in Congress he would draw it." — 
He affirmed to the last, that he, and not Jones, captured 
the Serapis, attributing her surrender entirely to his having 
raked her from the Alliance ; — about which the reader has 
seen that his assertion was entirely void of foundation. 

On the 2d of August, 1780, Jones addressed the following 
letter to the Count de Vergennes, and a similar one to the 
Count de Maurepas. The contents denote the activity of 
his mindj his continual anxiety for the furtherance of the 
American cause, and his accurate views of the best method 



M 



213 

of annoying the enemy. Of the ideas or plan to which he 
alludes in this letter there is no written statement in posses- 
sion of the author, farther than what' is contained in the an- 
swer of the Count de Maurepas, which is subjoined : 

V Orient, August 2d, 1780. 

His Excellency M. le Compte de Vergennes, &;c. 
My Lord, 

I should be unworthy of the illustrious marks that I have 
lately received of the royal favor, if I were not constantly 
impressed with the most ardent zeal to merit the continu- 
ance of his Majesty's approbation, by an invariable atten- 
tion to the mutual interests of France and America. Al- 
though my departure for America has been protracted by 
unforeseen events, it is not yet too late for government to 
pray the Congress that I may, during the remainder of this 
war, be constantly employed on active and useful services, 
tending to distract and distress the common enemy. After 
having been so highly honored by the kind attentions of the 
King's ministers, and their approbation of my poor services, 
I am convinced that 1 shall still find such support and pro- 
tection from this government, as may enable me to prove 
my gratitude by my future actions. 

Since L had the honor of laying before your Excellency, 
in the month of May last, my project for future expeditions, 
the events of the war have not so altered circumstances as 
to render my ideas inexpedient : on the contrary, the farther 
the war advances, I am the more confirmed in the utility that 
would result to the common cause from such services as I 
have therein hinted at. I was then happy in finding that 
your excellency approved of my ideas : It is therefore that 
I now enclose a copy, which I beseech your Excellency to 
reconsider and lay before his Majesty's privy council. If 
such expeditions as I wish to command were to be fitted out 
in America, 1 might be able with the greater certainty to 
strike the first blow by a complete surprise. Before the 
fleet of his Majesty sailed from Brest the first time, under 
Count D'Orvihiers, M. de Chaumont told me it was the 
desire of government to have my ideas on private expedi- 
tions in writing. I gave him with great pleasure many ideas, 
from my long knowledge of the enemy's trade and situation, 
that might have proved of great advantage to our cause, and 
I wish M. de Chaumont had given all my then ideas to the 



m--' 



216 

court, although I am told he has taken credit for some ot 
them as his own. I am now nearly ready for the sea with 
His Majesty's sloop of war the Ariel, and I should be happy 
to carry with me to Congress the interest of this government 
for my promotion ; but especially that I may be henceforth 
constantly employed in the most active and enterprising ser- 
vices, with such a force under my command as may enable 
me effectually to promote the interest of our glorious cause. 
This, my lord, would be my supreme ambition, actuated by 
no mean views of self-interest, but inspired by the purest 
principles of gratitude and philanthropy. It is upon this 
ground alone that 1 depend on the constant protection of the 
King, your Excellency, and this government. 

It is absolutely necessary, my lord, to destroy the foreign 
commerce of the English, especially their trade to the Bal- 
tic, from whence they draw all the supplies for their marine. 
It is equally necessary.to alarm their coasts, not only in the 
colonies abroad, but even in their islands at home. These 
things would distress and distract the enemy much more 
than many battles between fleets of equal force. England 
has carried on the war against America in a far more barba- 
rous form than she durst have adopted against any power of 
Europe. America has a right to retaliate ; and by our hav- 
ing the same language and customs with the enemy, we are 
in a situation to surprise their coasts and take such advan- 
tage of their unguarded situation, under the flag of America, 
as can never be done under the flag of France. This is not 
theory, for I have proved it by my experience ; and if I 
have opportunity I will yet prove it more fully. 

I shall be happy, my lord, to be honored with your Excel- 
lency's determination as soon as possible, as I purpose to 
proceed with the utmost expedition to Philadelphia, and as 
there is no time to lose in preparing for the operations of 
the next campaign. 

I am, my lord, your Excellency's most obliged, 

Most obedient, and most humble servant. 

Versailles, August 1 5th, 1780. 
Com. Paul Jones. 

Sir, 
I have received with great pleasure, and read with atten- 
tion the letter wrote me the 2d instant from L'Orient. I 
have remarked therein the continuation of your zeal for the 



common cause. I have examined and communicated to 
M. de Sartine the project annexed to your letter, and we 
have no manner of doubt of the good effect that would re- 
sult, were it entrusted to you. But at present it could not 
be said what number of frigates might be employed, they 
being all actually armed on account of the King, and the 
plan of the approaching campaign is not yet sufliciently de- 
termined, positively to say how many frigates may be given 
to you. But this need njot prevent, if you have the consent 
of Congress, the execution of the first part of your scheme, 
to come here as you propose with the Alliance, and the 
other vessels which you may have, and with a sufficient 
American crew to arm the frigates which may join you. I 
will endeavour here to secure some for you, or to substitute 
privateers in their place. This is all I can inform you\-f for 
the present. The conduct you have observed, and the zeal 
you have shown for the service, mitst assure you of the 
readiness with which I shall always aid any enterprise in 
which you may be concerned. Be assured. Sir, of the de- 
sire I have of rendering you any service, and convincing 
you of the sentiments with which, I am, &ic. 

Maueepas. 

On the 21st of September the Commodore replied to the 
Count de Maurepas evincing the same resolute spirit of per- 
severance in the cause of American Independence, for 
which, from his first entrance into the service, he had been 
remarkable : 

Ariel, Groaix, September 2\sf, 1780. 
His Excellency M. le Compte de ^ 
Maurepas, &:c. 3 

My Lord, 
I received in its due course, the letter that your Excel- 
lency condescended to write me from Versailles the 15thult., 
I having been detained in this road by contrary and stormy 
winds ever since the 4t.h current. I have postponed wri- 
ting to you until I could tell you at the same time, the wind 
being fair, that I was immediately about to depart. The 
prospect is become promising this evening, and I hope to set 
sail to-morrow. My lord, I want words to express my thanks 
for your very kind letter ; but it shall be the ambition of my 
life to merit your Excellency's pretection, and to exert all 
my abilities, such as they are, with double ardor, to prove 

Ee 



W' 



2 1 a 

my gratetul attachment and zeal for the glory and interesi 
of the King, his ministers, and this generous minded nation. 
By the four late ships that are arrived at L'Orient from Phi- 
ladelphia, I learn that the Congress and all America were 
warmly my friends. This cannot but afford me real satis- 
faction as a citizen of America ; and more especially, be- 
cause I shall be the better able to accomplish the first part of 
my project, agreeable to your Excellency's proposal, — by 
providing the frigates and men in question in America, which 
will I fondly hope enable me effectually to promote the 
glory and success of the common cause. With the most 
lively sentiments of esteem, and respect, I am. 

My lord, &c. 

Commodore Jones proceeded from L'Orient to Groaix. 
on the 4th of September, and was detained in that road, by 
storms and contrary winds, until the 7th of October 1 780, 
when he put to sea in the Ariel the first time. She had the 
misfortune to be dismasted, which occasioned his return. 
To the dangers he escaped, he alludes in a letter to Dr. E. 
Bancroft, of the 1 7th of October : 

V Orient, October 17th, 1780. 

E. Bancroft, Esq. 
Dear Sir, 

1 am, my dear Sir, returned to France without laurels, and 
which is worse without having been able to render service to 
our cause. 1 must refer you to Count de Vauban, the bearer 
of this letter, for a description of the late storm. I shall 
only say, it far exceeded all my former ideas of tempest. 
We must console ourselves that no lives were lost, — an event 
remarkably fortunate under such circumstances. You have 
no doubt received news from America. I have seen sonie 
of the papers, but find nothing very agreeable, except the 
address of the assembly of Rhode Island to the Count de 
Rochambeau and the answer. Mr. Wharton and myself 
would be glad to hear from you any thing you find inte- 
resting. Lee had reached Philadelphia the night before one 
of Captain Hall's passengers left it ; but we know nothing 
farther, except that no guns were fired, no bells were rung, 
nor bonfires made in consequence of so great an event! 
Your affairs are dry and safe, though many of our things are 
damaged, I mean our clothing, and books &c. Part of the 
powder, arms, and bread, &c. are wet. Count de Vauban 



il9 

behaved remarkably well, and appears to me to be a very 
worthy character. He is determined to use his interest with 
the Duke de Orleans, that the Terpsicore, may be substituted 
for the Ariel. 

I am not less a friend now, than I was formerly to Madam 
Chaumont and her family. Pray have you seen my fair 
friend the Countess of N. — she is I understand returned from 
Aix, and I am very anxious to hear from her. 

I am, &c. 

A more particular account of this calamity is contained 
in the following document: — 

We, the ofiicers of the ship of war Ariel, in the ser- 
vice of the United States of America, do hereby declare, 
that having been detained in the road of Groaix by stormy 
and contrary winds from the 4th ult. so that it was impos- 
sible to proceed on our voyage to America, before the 7th 
current ; we on that day weighed anchor at 2 in the after- 
noon, the wind being at N. N. W. and the weather having 
a very good appearance. We had under convoy two 
brigantines belonging to America named the Duke of Lein- 
ster and Luke, partly laden with public stores, and one lug- 
ger named the belonging to France. In the night 

the wind fell very moderate, and the weather was very 
serene. At — o'clock in the morning of the 8th the wind 
sprung up a moderate breeze at S. by W. At 8 o'clock the 
island of Groaix bore by compass N. E. by E. distance 5 
leagues. It was then squally weather with showers of rain, 
the wind at S. by W., and immediately afterward we lost 
sight of the land. The weather became very thick and the 
wind increased. By this time the storm had become sq 
violent, that the lee fore yard-arm was frequently under 
water. The lee gangway was laid entirely under the water, 
and the lee side of the waist was full. The water in the hold 
flowed into the cockpit, notwithstanding the utmost efforts 
of the chain pumps. In this distress at 11 we let drop the 
best bower anchor in 30 fathom, but it would not bring the 
ship's head to the wind. The captain ordered the wea- 
ther shrouds of the fore-mast to be cut, and the ship then 
brought up and rode head to the wind. The heel of the 
fore-mast carried away from the bow the stream and kedge 
anchors. The agitation of the elements was so violent that 
ihp main-mast could not stand, but reeled about likp a man 



'2-20 • 

drunk. Orders were therefore given to cut away the star- 
board shrouds so as to let it fall over the larboard side to 
save, if possible, the mizen-mast. Before this could be 
done the larboard shrouds and chain-plates gave way, and 
the main-mast fell over the starboard side, carrying with it 
the mizen-mast and quarter gallery. The main-mast had 
worked the heel out of the step. The ship leaked, though 
less than might have been expected, and the people were 
employed at the pumps and to clear away the wreck ; on 
the 9th at noon, saw the sun, and observed the latitude 47 
deg. and 47 min. The storm continued with very little in- 
termission until the morning of the 1 0th, and the agitation 
rendered it impossible to erect jury-masts 5 wc made the 
best preparation we could for that purpose, and succeeded 
so as to be able to cut our cable at 1 o'clock in the morn- 
ing of the 1 1 th. The wind had then come round to W. N. 
W., and we steered out S. S. W. till 4 o'clock, and finding 
then 10 fathom water, we bore away, E. S. E. At 8 
o'clock, steered easterly; at 10 o'clock saw the island of 
Groaix bearing E. N. E., and at 6 in the evening anchored 
in the road of Groaix. In the morning of the 1 2th we got 
a pilot from L'Orient, who, at 3 o'clock, brought the Ariel 
to an anchor in the harbor of L'Orient, where we now at- 
test and subscribe all the circumstances of the within de- 
claration as matters of fact. And we apprehend that part 
of the public stores on board are damaged. Done on board 
the Ariel in the harbor of L'Orient, this 13th of Octo- 
ber, 1780. 

Signed by the officers. 

He sailed again on the 1 8th of December, and arrived 
safely in the United States. 

The following extract from the journal, given by him to 
His Majesty the King of France, will illustrate the dexterity 
with which on the following occasion he extricated himself 
from peril, and the more so at this particular time, as the 
Ariel was deeply laden with military stores for the use of 
the army : — 

" After having met several vessels I at last met the 
frigate Triumph of 20 guns, belonging to the British navy. 

As that frigate sailed much faster than the Ariel, I could 
not avoid an engagement, but I so well manoeuvred and so 
well concealed ray preparations for an engagement that the 



221 

enemy thought of nothing else than making an easy con- 
quest and a good prize. 

As the night approached the Triumph hailed the Ariel, 
and the enemy was much surprised to find he had to con- 
tend with a force so nearly equal to his own. As the two 
frigates carried the English flag, there ensued a conversa- 
tion between the commander of the Triumph and me, by 
which I learned the situation of the English affairs in Ame- 
rica. At last I pretended not to believe that the Triumph 
belonged to the British navy, and 1 insisted that the captain 
should come on board the Ariel to show me his commission. 
The captain excused himself by saying that his boats leak- 
ed, and that 1 had told him neither my name nor that of my 
frigate, I answered I had no account to give to him, and that I 
allowed him only five minutes to determine. That time hav- 
ing expired, and the Ariel being situated abreast and to 
leeward, about 30 feet distant, 1 hoisted the American flag 
and began the engagement. Never was 1 in any preceding 
action, so much pleased as in this of the Ariel, with the 
regular and vigorous fire of the tops and the deck guns. 
This proceeded from the arrangement and preparation 
which had preceded the action, by placing the oflScers and 
passengers of the Ariel in different parts of the ship to pre- 
vent the men from deserting their posts, and to encourage 
them to do their duty ; which proves the advantage of hav- 
ing good officers, for there never was a more indifferent 
crew than that of the Ariel. 

After a short resistance the enemy struck his colours ; 
the captain of the Triumph begged for quarters, saying that 
he surrendered, and that half of his people were killed. 
1 immediately ordered the firing to cease, and there were 
several huzzas on board the Ariel, as is usual after a vic- 
tory ; but a minute afterward the captain of the Triumph 
had the baseness to fill his sails and run away. It was not 
in my power to prevent this, the Triumph sailing much 
faster than the Ariel. But if the British government had 
that feeling of honor and justice which becomes a great na- 
tion, they would have delivered up to the United States 
that frigate as belonging to them ; and would have punished 
in the most exemplary manner, her captain, for having 
thus violated the laws of war, and the custom of civilized 
nations." 

Complaints by Mr. l,ee and Capt. Landais, had, no 



>^ 



22i2 

doubt, preceded him ; for he was unmediately afterward 
called upon by the Board of Admiralty to answer forty-seven 
interrogatories, the answer^ to which would embrace the 
whole of his public transactions, from the period of his de-* 
parture from Portsmouth in the Ranger, until his return to 
the United States in the Ariel. On the 20th of February 
1781, Mr. John Brown enclosed the interrogatories to him 
in the subjoined terms : 

Admiralty Office^ February '20th, 1781. 
Captain Paul Jones is hereby required to answer the fol- 
lowing questions in writing, as soon as possible ; and to pro- 
duce the original orders. 

By order of the Board, 

John Brown, Secretary. 

With this requisition Jones complied on the 2 1st of March, 
and as the copy of the answers is in his own hand writing, 
being indeed, the original thereof, they are here introduced, 
as containing a precise narrative of the incidents of his life 
during a very interesting period of it : — 

Philadelphia, March, 1781. 

John Brown Esq., Secretary of Admiralty. 
Sir, 

I have the honor to give the following answers to the 
questions proposed to me by the board of Admiralty, Feb- 
ruary 20th, and March 1st, 1781 : — 

Answer \st. I sailed from Portsmouth in New Hamp- 
shire, the first day of November 1777, by order of the Ma- 
rine Committee, dated September 6th, 1777; having on 
board the despatches respecting the victory of Saratoga, 
and being bound for France, to take command of a large 
ship then building for America at Amsterdam, agreeable to 
orders from the Secret Committee, dated May 9th, to the 
commissioners at Paris. 

2. I took two brigantines on the passage, laden with fruit, 
wine, &;c., bound from Malaga for London. I ordered the 
prize masters to deliver them to the Continental agents, Mr. 
Thomas Morris, and Mr. Alderman Lee in France, in con- 
formity to the orders I had formerly received from the Com- 
mittee of Congress. One of these prizes arrived at Bour- 
deaux,the other at Nantes. Being at Nantes myself, I pro- 
posed to send the one arrived there to America, finding she 



x!2J 

would tetch very little in France, but this Mr. Morris would 
not agree to. I believe Mr. Dunlap had his authority either 
from the agents, or the commissioners. He had no appoint- 
ment from me. He accounted at last for the captors' part 
of the sale to Mr. Williams, who paid them before the Ran- 
ger left France for America ; and 1 suppose he accounted 
for the Continental part to the commissioners. The commis- 
sioners sent for me to Paris, to consult on future operations 
respecting the ship of war Indien, built for America at Am- 
sterdam, and proposed to be put under my command ; but 
after I had remained at Paris three weeks, the commission- 
ers informed me they had assigned over the property of 
that ship to the King of France, whose property she still 
seems to be. As nothing had been hitherto done for the re- 
lief of the unfortunate Americans confined in English dun- 
geons, I determined if possible to effect their exchange, and 
to put an end to the cruel burnings of our enemies on this 
continent. The commissioners were not in my secret, as 
appears by the unrestraining papers I then received from 
them, dated Paris, January 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th, 1778. 
I returned to Nantes, and sent the commissioners the 
scheme that was afterward adopted for Count d'Estaing's 
expedition. I also demanded, and obtained a salute from 
the flag of France, both at Quiberon, and at Brest, before 
the treaty of alliance was announced. I sailed from Brest 
in the Ranger into the Irish channel, made a descent at 
Whitehaven with 30 men only, surprised and took two strong 
forts, with 30 pieces of cannon, and set fire to the shipping, 
where there lay 300 or upwards, in the dry pier. That both 
the shipping and town, containing from 40 to 50 thousand 
inhabitants was not burnt to ashes, was owing to the back- 
wardness of some persons under my command. I landed 
the day afterward in Scotland, in order to take some noble- 
man prisoner, as an hostage for the good treatment and ex- 
change of our countrymen in England. The Earl of Sel- 
kirk hved near the shore, and it was my intention to take 
him ; but he being from home, I was obliged to give way to 
the murmurs of my party, and suffer them to bring away 
the family plate. I have since purchased it, and restored it 
to the fair owner. We took the sloop of war Drake of 20 
guns, and an hundred and seventy-five men, sent in pursuit 
of the Ranger. I had but an hundred and twenty-three men 
and IB guns in the Ranger. We took also five other prizes. 



2M 

sunk three of tiiem, and arrived with the Drake, the other 
two, and 200 prisoners at Brest, May 7th, 1 778, having been 
absent only 28 days. 

3. I am unable to say with certainty, by whom the then 
agents were appointed. Mr. Morris was dead, and Mr. 
Sweighauser informed me by letter that Mr. Williams had 
nothing to do with public atTairs, and that Mr. Alderman 
Lee, before he went to Germany, had appointed him (Mr. 
Sweighauser,) as his deputy agent, «Sz:c. His conduct was 
not satisfactory to me, because his inquiry was oniy res- 
pecting the prizes : because he left me for a month, to 
cure my wounded, to feed my people, to guard my prison- 
ers, and to refit the Ranger on my own credit : because my 
prizes were actually attached afterward for provision that 
had been furnished to the Ranger, by Monsieur Bersole be- 
fore that ship sailed on the expedition from Brest : because 
he sold my prizes at last, without my proper authority, and 
without giving the public proper notice of that sale ; and be- 
cause I believe he has not yet accounted to the crew of the 
Ranger, for their share in their prizes, that were, I under- 
stand, while in his hands, shamefully plundered, and at last 
given away rather than sold. The second year after these 
transactions were ended, I authorized Mr. Williams to re- 
ceive from Mr. Sweighauser what he pleased to allow as my 
share in these prizes, and Mr. Williams gave me credit in 
his account, in part of the monies I had been obliged to bor- 
row from my private friends. I do not remember the amount 
of what Mr. Williams received ; nor do I find the account 
among my papers, that have been several times broken open. 

Perhaps Mr. Sweighauser had Alderman Lee's appoint- 
ment confirmed by the commissioners, for his deputy assumed 
the agency at L'Orient immediately on the revolt of the 
Alliance, and went to a considerable expense, which he has 
since repented, as I understand, his bills having been refused 
by Mr. Franklin. 

4. The prisoners were guarded on board one of my pri- 
zes by French soldiers, and none escaped from the month of 
May until the middle of September. This guard cost Ame- 
rica nothing : I obtained it on my own credit, and the sol- 
diers were even fed at the King's expense. Many of them 
escaped afterward while they remained under the care of 
Mr. Sweighauser, and the remainder were at last exchanged 
for American seamen. 



225 

b. I left the Ranger in the beginning of June, 1778, on 
an invitation from the Court of France, communicated to 
me by His Excellency B. Franklin Esq., (which was after- 
ward approved of by the commissioners,) in order as it 
then appeared, to command the ship built for America at 
Amsterdam, that had been assigned over to the King, by the 
commissioners. That ship to be, as I understood, pre- 
sented to America, and supported under our flag by the 
King. 

6. I took comniand of the Bon homme Richard, the 4th 
of February 1779, agreeable to a letter of that date, ad- 
dressed to me by His Excellency M. de Sartine. 

7. The Bon homme Richard was the property of the 
King, and all the squadron I commanded was at the expense 
of the crown of France. This is clear from a letter I re- 
ceived from His Excellency B. Franklin Esq., dated 12th of 
August, 1780, &c. 

8. I have never borne, nor acted under any other commis- 
sion than that of the Congress of America. 

9. The squadron I commanded, was at the first left en- 
tirely at my discretion, as well as the French troops that go- 
vernment proposed to embark. I had a variety of objects 
in view, and should have endeavoured to execute some of 
the projects I had laid before the Minister of the marine. 
But when the Marquis de la Fayette arrived in France, the 
court again sent for me express to L'Orient. It was deter- 
mined the Marquis should command the troops ; — the Al- 
liance was made part of the squadron, and I received orders 
for an expedition, from His Excellency Benjamin Frank- 
lin, Esq. 

10. The Alliance was put under my orders by His Ex- - 
cellency B. Franklin, Esq. 

1 1 . The squadron being at first committed to my discretion^ 
I had, as I have already said, a variety of objects, but ne 
person was in my secret. I hope it is not doubted it was 
my intention to distress the enemy, and promote to the ut- 
most of my ability the mutual interests of France and Ame- 
rica, and it is not improbable I might have appeared season- 
ably on this coast. 

12. I have already said 1 had a variety of objects in 
view. This will best appear by a general review of mj 
correspondence. My first object was the cause of humanity 
to effect the liberty and exchange of our unfortunate fellom" 

F f 



S>^6 

ciiizcns conlined as '• pirates, felons, and traitors," in the 
dungeons of England, and to put a stop to the savage burn- 
ings and wanton cruelties of the enemy on this continent. 
My second and last object has been the honor of the Ame- 
rican flag. The orders I received in Europe will best ex- 
plain the objects of the Court of France, and of the Ame- 
rican minister at that court. 

1 3. The expense of the armament was paid by the Court 
of France, (the men's wages who belonged to the Bon homme 
Richard, and were carried away from L'Orient in irons on 
board the Alliance excepted,) these poor men were not paid 
owing to the revolt on board that ship, and the trifling, and 
idle excuses formerly made from time to time by M. le Ray 
de Chaumont, to whom government had entrusted the funds 
as a commissary for the expense of that armament. The 
Alliance appears to have been provided with stores and pro- 
vision at the expense of the court from the time of joining 
the squadron until her return to L'Orient from Spain, the 
10th day of February, 1780. But I did not find that the 
court meant to pay the men's wages' of that ship, though I 
endeavored to obtain that payment. I am uncertain 
whether the expense of the Alliance after her return to 
L'Orient was on account of the Court, or of the United 
States : — ^sometimes I believed the one, and sometimes the 
other. 

1 4. The Alliance was undoubtedly to share in prizes taken 
by the squadron, in proportion to the number of her men, 
and the number and cahbre of her guns. 

15. I know of no ordinance made by the King, respect- 
ing the squadron His Majesty put under my command. — 
But as the squadron was under the flag of America, the ofli- 
eers appear entitled to every advantage that any other ofti- 
cers may or can claim under the establishment of the marine 
laws of America, and the rules of the continental navy. 

16. I have given a particular account of my expedition 
from L'Orient round the west of Ireland, north of Scotland, 
and east of England, to the Texel, in a letter to the Minis- 
ter of these States at the Court of Versailles, and to the 
Minister of the Marine, dated on board the Serapis, ofl" the 
Texel, the 3d of October, 1779, copies whereof were sent 
to the President of Congress. I find on the return of 405 
prisoners at the Texel, November 4th, 1779, 13 masters of 
meKchantmen. so that the squadron took 1 5 sail, including 



the Serapis and Countess of Scarborough. I need not ob- 
serve how much might have been done, if due subordination 
had prevailed in the squadron. 

17. A ship and two brigantines, taken by the squadron 
off the entrance of the Channel and west of Ireland, were 
ordered for France. The brigantines arrived at L'Orient,, 
and were sold there. The ship was not heard of afterward. 
Two rich letter-of-niarque ships were taken oft" the coast of 
Scotland, and Capt. Landais took upon himself, even under 
rmy nose, and without my knowledge, to order them to Ber- 
gen, in Norway, where they were given up to the English. 
A brigantine collier was sent, as I understand, to Dunkirk, 
by Capt. Landais, during his second separation from the 
squadron in the East Sea. The Countess of Scarborough 
arrived, and was publicly sold at Dunkirk. The Serapis 
arrived, and was publicly sold at L'Orient. The rest of the 
prizes taken, were either sunk, burnt, or destroyed, except 
one brigantine, from Holland for England, that was retaken, 
and a small collier, that I gave up to the master, on account 
of his attachment to America, and the faithful information 
and important services he rendered me, by his general know- 
ledge of the east coast of Britain, particularly in the Firth 
of Forth, in my projected enterprise against Leith and Edin- 
burg. I had given orders to sink the old vessel, when the 
tears of that honest man prevailed over my intention. He 
became security for the good behaviour and payment of the 
pilots of the Pallas and Vengeance. 

18. The officers and men of the Bon homme Richard 
and Alliance appointed Messrs. Gourlade and Moylan their 
agents for prizes. I had nothing to do with that appoint- 
ment. I can give no certain account respecting the ap- 
pointment of agents for the United States. But I hope my 
correspondence, which h wish to be examined, respecting 
these prizes, will shew I have done my utmost for the gene- 
ral good. ;, 

19. I never received any account of the nett proceeds of 
the prizes taken by the squadron. 

20. The American officers and men did, I believe, receive 
from their agents some part of their shares arising from the 
sale of the prizes taken by the squadron under my com- 
mand ; but what part they received I cannot say, it being 
their own private transaction. 

21. His Excellency Benjamin Franklin, Esq. wrote rn<*> 



22ii 

n 

liie 4lh of December, 1780, "he understood the prize-mo- 
ney was not then received from the King." My corres- 
' pondence will, I hope, shew 1 have done ray best to obtain 
payment. 

22. I have always considered and now consider the pri- 
soners taken by the squadron I conimanded as the property 
of the United States ; and I believe Mr. Franklin had assu- 
rance from government, to receive an equal number of pri- 
soners in France to exchange for the Americans in England, 
before he sent me orders to deliver up the prisoners I had 
taken to the Duke de la Vauguyon, Ambassador of France 
in Holland. After I returned to France, a cartel arrived 
at Morlex with an hundred Americans from England. I had 
occasion to lay before government a paper mentioning the 
American prisoners remaining in England ; and nothing was 
either said or written to me by the King's ministers that 
could bear an unfavorable construction. On the contrary, 
Count Maurepas wrote me a very kind letter expressing his 
general approbation of that paper. 

23. I had command of the Serapis from the time the Bon 
homme Richard sunk until she was remasted, repaired, and 
fit for sea at the Texel. 

24. When ready for sea, I received a letter from his Ex- 
cellency Benjamin Franklin, Esq. referring me to the am- 
bassador of France, who sent for me to Amsterdam, and, 
after a dispute of thirteen hours, I yielded to go from on 
board the Serapis to the command of the Alhance. This, 
as I afterward understood, was brought about through M. 
le Ray de Chaumont. This will best appear by my corres- 
pondence on that subject. 

25. When Capt. Landais received orders to appear at 
Paris, His Excellency Benjamin Franklin, Esq. wrote me 
either to appoint a commander for 4;he Alliance, or take it 
upon myself. I had applied to him to name a commander, 
and he said he had no fit person. I was in the same predi- 
cament. Lieut. Degge was the senior officer on board, and 
iny giving him an order to act as commander, was matter of 
necessity, not of choice ; for, as I then expected to bring 
the Serapis to America, after having landed the prisoners 
in France, and as the Alliance was abominably dirty and 
out of order, 1 did not choose to go on board that ship as 
captain. 

2ft. I took command of the Alliance at last, by the autho- 



rity and repeated order of His Excellency Benjamin Frank- 
lin, Esq. 1 may add I had also all the authority that could 
be given me by the Ambassador of France ; and I conceive 
my own authority, as commander in chief of the squadron, 
might justify me had I acted in consequence of it. 

27. The Alliance left the Texel the 27th of December, 
1779. 

28. The Alliance arrived in Spain the 16th of January, 
1780, and at Groaix without L'Orient, the 10th of Febru- 
ary, 1780. 

29. At L'Orient the Alliance required very considerable 
repairs. She had not one good sail — had left the Texel 
with only one anchor, and had I not procured two new ca- 
bles from Amsterdam after I left the Serapis, I should have 
lost the Alliance at the Texel. I never found a frigate in 
so bad a condition. Epidemical disorders raged among the 
crew. The cutwater was loosened by laying in the trough 
of the swell in a gale of wind, while separated from the squad- 
ron in the North Sea. I was obliged to secure it with a haw- 
ser. The bowsprit was too long, ran out too much in a hori- 
zontal Une, and was loose. The ballast was, a considerable 
part of it, laid before the magazine in the fore-peak, and on 
the breast hooks ; the rest was ranged along the wings, elected 
up at a very considerable distance from the keel, and above the 
dead- rising. The remainder of it was laid in the after-peak, 
and on the transums. The two fore guns had been carried 
and run out over the bow ; the after guns run out at the 
stern ports. The top-masts, yards, and rigging, were large 
enough for a sixty-gun ship, and the tops were so ill made, 
and so narrow, as to give the masts no proper support. It 
is impossible to imagine a worse arrangement than that of 
the store-rooms. They were divided and subdivided into 
little closets, nooks, and winding passages, and, instead of 
being adapted to contain the ship's stores, appeared only fit 
to lodge dirt, and increase the quantity of rats, already im- 
mense. The magazine was not only inconvenient, but very 
insecure from fire, &:c. There was no fit orlop for the ca- 
bles, and the sail-room could contain at most only one of the 
spare courses. The deck was burnt through under the 
hearth, and the bottom of the copper burnt out. Many 
obstructions of useless hatchways, &:c., were in the way of 
the recoil of the guns ; and the gangways were so ill contri- 
ved, as neither to afford a convenient passage from the qqar- 



.23U 

ler-deck to the forecastle, nor cover the men at the guns in 
the waist. The mizcn-mast stood too close to the main- 
mast. The ship was very crank — plunged very deep in a 
head sea, and could neither sail nor work as a frigate. I 
began to put that ship in order immediately on my taking 
command ; and after my arrival at L'Orient, the essential 
repairs were finished early in April, by the crew of the ship 
and four or five Anerican carpenters, hired from the Luzern 
to assist ours. The materials of the old arrangement did 
not fall much short of finishing the new. Judges have al- 
lowed, that when the business was finished every thing about 
that frigate was perfect. 1 know not what was the amount 
of the disbursements. The accounts were never shewn to 
me ; but I understand from Mr. Ross, an expense of 30 or 
40,000 livres was contracted afterward, by Capt. Landais and 
his advisers, which Mr. Franklin refused to pay. 1 took on 
board the AlHance 28 18-pounders, and 12 9-poundcrs, that 
I had myself contracted for at Angouleme, for the Bon 
homme Richard; also 76 chests of arms, and 216 barrels 
of powder, from the King's magazine, and 1 had allotted a 
place for the bales of clothing, afterward shipped in the 
brig Luke, which the Alliance could have carried without 
any inconvenience, and 1 should also have endeavoured to 
take in part of the clothing that was made up. 

30. M. le Ray de Chaumont had promised from day to 
day, to remit the government monies to L'Orient, for the 
payment of wages, and also 100,000 livres, in part of prize- 
money, to be divided among the Americans of the squadron, 
then on board the Alliance ; but at last, instead of comply- 
ing with either, he prevailed on the Minister of the Marine 
to order the Serapis to be valued in the French way, for 
account of the King, and without giving the captors any 
satisfaction whatever, or obtaining their leave or consent, 
the workmen in the port began to rip up the orlop deck, 
and all the interior work of that ship. Messrs. Gourlade 
and Moylan did not interfere to prevent this. Mr. Lee took 
much pains to persuade the people they had been sailing 
with me in a privateer^ would be detained in Europe during 
the war, and get nothing at last. 1 found it impossible to 
reason them into good humor, so as to go to sea ; they posi- 
tively declared ihey would not weigh anchor till they were 
ftilly paid, and wrote to this effect to Mr. Franklin. I wa* 



231. 

tiien greatly disgusted with the treatment that, in appear' 
ance, 1 had met with from M. de Sartine, but which in real- 
ity did not prove to be his fault, but that of M. le Ray de 
Chaumont. But as I saw no way of overcoming my diffi- 
culties by remaining at L'Orient, I, with the advice of Mr. 
Samuel Wharton, and the majority of the Americans then 
assembled at L'Orient, waiting to proceed with me to Ame- 
rica, went up to court to demand the free sale of our prizes, 
agreeable to the laws of the American navy. Mr. Franklin 
went with me to the Minister, who, contrary to my expect- 
ation, gave me the most friendly welcome, and sent imme- 
diate orders to publish the inventories and advertise the sale 
of all the prizes. This, however, took up more time than 
had been imaii;ined. I improved this moment and the favor- 
able disposition of government, to ask for and obtain the 
Ariel, to assist the Alliance in transporting the clothing, &:c., 
for our armies. I purposed to mount the Ariel with only 
16 guns, with 60 or 80 men ; and as I had left near 400 men 
in the Alliance, 1 had a crew sufficient for both ships. Thus 
the Ariel would have carried a large quantity of public stores, 
and no additional expense would have been incurred on ac- 
count of that ship. The men must have been fed, whether 
in the Alliance or the Ariel, and being in part removed to 
the latter ship, the former would have had so much the less 
water and provision to carry. Upon learning that the sale 
of the prizes was protracted beyond expectation, 1 returned 
to L'Orient in the beginning of June, and as the sale was 
published, I hoped to be able to remove the idea of their 
having sailed in a "jsn'ra/eer," and to be able to prevail 
with the people to leave the prize-money to be settled by 
their agents in France, and to sail immediately with the two 
frigates and merchant ships that waited my convoy ; but, to 
my great mortification, my scheme was entirely defeated by 
Mr. Lee, Capt. Landais, and his party. 

31. 1 know not exactly the date of Admiral de Temey's 
sailing from Brest for America, but think it was about the 
latter end of May. 

32. I understood it was proposed to charter two ships 
from Messrs. Bondfield and Haywood, for the purpose of 
transporting from France the clothing and stores for our 
armies, which was not concluded, because the terms were 
thou j;ht too extravagant. 

33. 1 know the Marquis de la Fayette took much pains to 



232 

obtain clothing and stores from government. I never under- 
stood, that the funds for such purchase were put into the 
hands of the minister plenipotentiary of these States. The 
arms and powder came directly from the King's manufacto- 
ries. I understood M. le Ray de Chaumont was princi- 
pally concerned in the purchase of the clothing, and that he 
employed Mr. Wiliiaijis of Nantes, who drew his bills on M. 
le Ray de Chaumont, at sundry usances ; but I am unable 
to say who employed M. le Ray de Chaumont, or who is 
now charged to ship the clothing and stores for America. — 
Mr. Joseph Wharton, who was at Passy, and intimate both 
with Mr. Frankhn and M. le Ray de Chaumont, when the 
purchase of clothing was made, and is now here, can, 1 be- 
lieve, give a satisfactory answer respecting that transaction. 

34. The reasons already assigned will shew why Admiral 
de Terney's convoy was not embraced for the Alliance. 

35. Captain Landais repossessed himself of the Alliance 
the 13th of June. Mr. Lee and the rest of his council can 
best answer why he sailed contrary to my orders, as well as 
the orders of Mr. Franklin. The passengers he had on 
board were, Mr. Lee and his two nephews, Mr. M. Living- 
ston, Major Frazer, Mr. Brown, and three French officers 
now with the Marquis de la Fayette ; I heard of no others. 
I cannot answer as to what private property might have been 
on board the Alliance, at the time she left France. 

36. The brig Luke appeared to be in very good condi- 
tion when she left France — was, I understand, owned by 
Mr. James Moylan. I believe she had some private freight 
on board. 

37. I took command of the Ariel the beginning of June, 
when lent by the King, whose property she is, for a voyage 
from France to America, for the purpose I have already 
mentioned. 

38. I have already explained what was the object of my 
taking command of the Ariel. If I had any personal view, 
it was to appear here to answer for my past conduct. I 
have obeyed orders, and refer to my correspondence. 

39. I have already said I never commanded under any 
other commission than that of the Congress of these United 
States. 

40. I sent from France to the Board of Admiralty a de- 
claration of my officers and men, shewing that the Ariel 
sailed from L'Orient to Groaix the 4th of September, and 



^33 

was detained in that road by storms and contrary winds till 
the 7th of October, when 1 put to sea, the first time. 

41. The Ariel had on board for the United States four 
liundred and thirty-seven barrels of powder, one hundred and 
forty-six chests of arms, a quantity of medicine, a quantity 
of 1 2 and 9 pound shot, and a small quantity of sheet lead. 

42. It was well known at Nantes and L'Orient what time 
I was ready to sail. The Luke, Duke of Leinster, and a 
French lugger all bound here, sailed under my convoy. I 
I had no official information, nor indeed any private cer- 
tainty respecting captains or agents having charge of the 
public stores of any kind, — therefore I could not write to 
such persons ojfficially. 

43. I put to sea with the Ariel the second time the 1 8th of 
December last. 

44. I had on board, when I last sailed, the articles I have 
mentioned in my last answer but two, except the arms, 
which being wet when the Ariel was dismasted were left 
under the care of Messrs, Gourlade and Moylan. 

45. I never knew officially in Europe, who were the 
American agents. The brig Luke sailed the second time 
about the last of October, before the Ariel was again masted. 
The clothing lay in the warehouse of Messrs. Gourlade and 
Moylan, the military stores being in the hands of the King's 
officers at Port Louis. Both were well acquainted with the 
time of my sailing : I waited ten or twelve days with a 
fair wind for the despatches. I do not believe either the 
King's officers, or Messrs. Gourlade and Moylan were au- 
thorized to ship any part of the public stores in their hands 
in any merchant ships that have in the course of last year 
been bound from France to America. 

46. No private merchandise came over in the Ariel to 
my knowledge. There was on board some 8 or 10 small 
trunks and boxes, which I conceive to have been presents to 
the gentlemen of Congress. Mr. Ross, an old servant to 
the pubhc, had his books and accounts on board. The pas- 
sengers had but little baggage. These trifling articles were 
put into my own store room : and I am above deriving any 
benefit or profit whatever either from the passengers or 
articles here mentioned. 

47. The officers and crew of the Ariel are at the expense 
of the United States, they are enlisted for three years, ex- 



234 

cept some lew who entered at L'Orient for one year alter 
the ship put back there, as will best appear by the entry 
book. 

Having thus endeavored to answer all the questions that 
have been put to me by the Board of Admiralty, I lay all mj' 
correspondence on the subject of this inquiry before that 
board. I submit with the utmost deference my own con- 
duct to the impartial inspection of the board, and am with 
great respect, Sir, Yours, &;c. 

On the 1 4th of April ensuing. Congress, then in session, 
passed the following vote of thanks : 

By the United States in Congress assembled. 

Saturday, April \Ath, 1781. 

On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. Varnuni. 
Mr. Houston, and Mr. Matthews, to whom was referred a 
motion of Mr. Varnum : 

The United States in Congress assembled, having taken 
into consideration the report of the Board of Admiralty of 
the 28th of March last, respecting the conduct of John 
Paul Jones, Esq., captain in the navy, do 

Resolve, That the thanks of the United States in Con- 
gress assembled, be given to Captain John Paul Jones, for 
the zeal, prudence, and intrepidity with which he has sup- 
ported the honor of the American flag ; for his bold and 
successful enterprises to redeem from captivity the citizens 
of these States who had fallen under the power of the ene- 
my ; and in general for the good conduct and eminent ser- 
vices by which he has added lustre to his character, and to 
the American arms : 

That the thanks of the United States in Congress assem- 
bled, be also given to the officers and men who have faith- 
fully served under him from time to time, for their steady 
affection to the cause of their country, and the bravery and 
perseverance they have manifested therein. 

The subjoined letters from the Commander in Chief, Gen. 
Lafayette, and the Hon. John Adams, express in very hand- 
some terms, their opinion of the conduct and services of 
Commodore Jones : 



Head-Quarters, Nexo Windsor, May l9//t, 1781. 
The Chevalier Paul Jones, Captain in the Navy of the 
United States. 
Sir, 

My partial acquaintance with either our naval or com- 
mercial afTairs, makes it altogether impossible for me to ac- 
count for the unfortunate delay of those articles of military 
stores and clothing which have been so long provided in 
France. 

Had I had any particular reasons to have suspected you 
of being accessory to that delay, which I assure you has not 
been the case, my suspicion would have been removed by 
the very full and satisfactory answers which you have, to 
the best of my judgment, made to the questions proposed to 
you by the Board of Admiralty, and upon which that Board 
have, in their report to Congress, testified the high sense 
which they entertain of your merit and services. 

Whether our naval affairs have in general been well or 
ill conducted, would be presumptuous in me to determine. 
Instances of bravery and good conduct in several of our 
officers, have not, however, been wanting . delicacy forbids 
me to mention that particular one which has attracted the 
admiration of all the world, and which^has influenced the 
most illustrious Monarch to confer a mark of his favor, 
which can only be obtained by a long and honorable service, 
or by the performance of some brilliant action. 

That you may long enjoy the reputation you have so just- 
ly acquired, is the sincere wish of. 

Sir, your most obedient, and very humble servant, 

George Washington. 

Alliayice, off Boston, Dec. 22 J, 1781. 
John Paul Jones, Esq., Chevalier of the Royal Order of 
Military Merit, Commander of the ship^of the line Ame- 
rica, at Portsmouth in New Hampshire. 

Sir, 
I have been honored with your polite favor, my dear 
Paul Jones, but before it reached me I was already on board 
the Alliance, and every minute expecting to put to sea. It 
would have afforded me great satisfaction to pay my re- 
spects to the inhabitants of Portsmouth, and the State in 
which you are for the present. As to the pleasure to take 
yiou by the hand, my dear Paul Jones, you know my affec- 



lionale sentiinenis, and my very great regard for you, so that 
I need not add any thing on that subject. 

Accept of my best thanks for the kind expressions in your 
letter. His Lordship's (Lord Cornwalhs) downfall is a great 
event, and the greater, as it was equally and amicably shared 
by the two allied nations. Your coming to the army 1 had the 
honor to command, would have been considered as a very 
flattering compliment to one who loves you and knows your 
worth. I am impatient to hear that you are ready to sail ; 
and I am of opinion that we ought to unite under you every 
continental ship we can muster, with such a body of well 
appointed marines (trouper de mer) as might cut a good 
figure ashore, and then give you plenty of provisions and 
carte blanche, 

I am sorry I cannot see you : I also had many things to 
tell you. Write me by good opportunities, but not often in 
ciphers, unless the matter is very important. On my arri- 
val in France, I will be able to let you know about the one 
you gave mc, but am almost certain I have got it. 

Your friends will be happy to hear from you : and I, my 
dear Sir, need not tell you that your letters will be grate- 
fully ackjiowledged, by, &c. Lafayette. 

Hague, August 12th, 1782. 
John Paul Jones, Esq., Commander of the America, at 
Portsmouth, New Hampshire. 
Dear Sir, 

I had yesterday the pleasure of receiving your favor of 
the 10th of December last, and am much obliged to you for 
your care of the articles which Mr. Moylan, at my desire, 
sent to my family. 

The command of the America could not have been more 
judiciously bestowed, and it is with impatience that I wish 
her at sea, where she will do honor to her name. Nothing 
gives me so much surprise, or so much regret, as the inatten- 
tion of my countrymen to their navy : it is a bulwark as 
essential as it is to Great Britain. It is less costly than ar- 
mies, and more easily removed from one end of the United 
States to the other. Our minister of finance used to be a 
great advocate for this kind of defence. I hope he has not 
altered his sentiments concerning it. 

Every day shows that the Batavians have not wholly lost 
their ancient character. They were always timid and slow 



''237 

in adopting their political systems, but always firm and able 
in support of them, and always brave and active in war. 
They have hitherto been restrained by their chiefs ; but, if 
the war continues, they will shew that they are possessed 
of the spirit of liberty, and that they have lost none of their 
great qualities. 

Rodney's victory has intoxicated Britain again to such a 
degree that I think there will be no peace for some time. In- 
deed, if I could see a prospect of half a dozen line-of-battle 
ships under the American flag, commanded by Commodore 
Paul Jones, engaged with an equal British force, I appre- 
hend the event would be so glorious for the United States, 
and lay so sure a foundation for their prosperity, that it 
would be a rich compensation for a continuance of the war. 

However, it does not depend upon us to finish it. There 
is but one way to finish it, and that is — Burgoynizing Carl- 
ton in New York. 

I should be happy to hear from you, and remain, &c. 

John Adams. 

After remaining a short time in the United States, Jones 
was appointed on the 26th of June, 1781, unanimously by bal- 
lot, to the command of the America, one of the 74 gun ships 
ordered to be built by a resolution of Congress of the 20th 
of November, 1776. 

The following is the resolution adopted on the occasion : 

In Congress, June 26th, 1781. 
Congress proceeded to the appointment of a captain 
to command the ship America 74, and the ballots being 
taken, John Paul Jones, Esq. was unanimously elected. 

In superintending the construction of this vessel, he was 
engaged sixteen months. But the King of France having, 
about this time, lost a ship of that class from his navy, the 
United States made a present of the America to him to sup- 
ply the place of the one that was lost. 

The annexed is the resolution passed by Congress on the 
occasion : — 

In Congress, September 3d, 1782. 
Whereas the Magnifique, a 74 gun ship belonging to 
the fleet of His Most Christian Majesty, commanded by the 
Marquis de Vaudreuil, has been lately lost by accident in the 



238 

harbor ot" Boston, and Congress are desirous ol" testifying on 
this occasion to his Majesty, the sense they entertain of his 
generous exertions in behalf of the United States : — 

Resolved, That the agent of marine be, and he is hereby 
instructed to present the America, a 74 gun ship, in the 
name of the United States, to the Chevalier de la Luzerne, 
for the service of his Most Christian Majesty. 

The following letter from the Hon. Robert Morris w^ls 
written to Jones with the intention, no doubt, of soothing hi« 
feelings under this severe disappointment : 

Chevalier Paul Jones. 

Dear Sir, Marine office, Sept. 4th, 1782. 

The enclosed resolution* will shew you the destination of 
the ship America. Nothing could be more pleasing to me 
than this disposition, excepting so far as you are affected by 
it. I know you so well as to be convinced that it must 
give you great pain, and I sincerely sympathize with you : 
but, although you will undergo much concern at being de- 
prived of this opportunity to reap laurels on your favourite 
field, yet your regard for France will, in some measure, 
alleviate it, and to this your good sense will naturally add 
the delays which must have happened in fitting this ship for 
sea. I must entreat of you to continue your inspection 
until she is launched, and to urge forward the business. 
When that is done if you will come hither, I will explain to 
you the reasons which led to this measure, and my views for 
employing you in the service of your country. You will, 
on your route, have an opportunity of conferring with the 
General, on the place you mentioned to me in one of 
your letters, 

I pray you to believe me your affectionate friend, &c. 

Robert Morris. 

Jones was then left without employment ; and, ever im- 
patient when not occupied, he addressed, in 1782, a long 
memorial to the United States' minister of marine, in which 
he set forth his claims to promotion, and submitted some 

* Resolution of Congress of September 3d, 1782, directing the pre- 
sentation to His Majesty the King of France, of the America, to replace 
the Magnifique which had been lately lost by accident in tlie harbor of 
Boston. 



239 

projects and suggestions, which, had they been adopted, 
would have had the effect to bring him once more into ser- 
vice. As several passages in that memorial may prove in- 
teresting to our naval officers, a few of them are inserted 
from the rough draft in the hands of the author. Some of 
the extracts here published, appear to have been crossed and 
cancelled by Jones himself, so that they were probably not 
communicated to the Board of Admiralty. 

The United States' Minister of Marine. 

Sir, Philadelphia, Sept. 22c?, 1782. 

The beginning of our navy, as navies now rank, was so 
singularly small, that I am of opinion it has no precedent 
in history. Was it a proof of madness in the first corps of 
sea officers, at so critical a period, to have launched out on 
the ocean with only two armed merchant ships, two armed 
brigantines, and one armed sloop to make war against such 
a power as Great Britain ? 

To be diffident is not always a proof of ignorance ; but 
sometimes the contrary. I was offered a captain's com- 
mission at the first to command the Providence, but declined 
it. Let it, however, be remembered, that there were three 
grades of sea lieutenants estabUshed by the act of Congress 
of the 22d of December, 1775, and as I had the honor to 
be placed at the head of the first of those grades, it is not 
quite fair to confound me with the last. I had sailed be- 
fore this Revolution in armed ships and frigates, yet when I 
came to try my skill, I am not ashamed to own I did not find 
myself perfect in the duties of a first lieutenant. If mid- 
night study, and the instruction of the greatest and most 
learned sea officers, can have given me advantages, I am not 
without them. I confess, however, I have yet to learn. It 
is the work of many years' study and experience, to acquire 
the high degree of science necessary for a great sea officer. 
Cruising after merchant-ships, the service in which our fri- 
gates have generally been employed, affords, I may say no part 
of the knowledge necessary for conducting fleets and their 
operations. There is now, perhaps, as much difference be- 
tween a battle between two ships and an engagement between 
two fleets, as there is between a duel and a ranged battle 
between two armies. 

The English, who boast so much of their navy, never 
fought a ranged battle on the ocean, before the war that is 



240 

HOW ended. The battle off Ushant was, on their part, like 
their former ones, irregular; and Admiral Keppel could 
only justify himself by the example of Hawke in our re- 
membrance, and of Russel in the last century. From that 
moment the English were forced to study and to imitate the 
French in their evolutions. They never gained any advan- 
tage when they had to do with equal force, and the unfor- 
tunate defeat of Count de Grasse was owing more to the 
unfavorable circumstance of the wind coming ahead four 
points at the beginning of the battle, which put his fleet into 
the order of echiquier when it was too late to tack, and of 
calms and currents afterward, which brought on an entire 
disorder, than to the admiralship or even the vast superio- 
rity of Rodney, who had forty sail of the line against thirty, 
and five three deckers against one. By the account of 
some of the French officers Rodney might as well have 
been asleep, not having made a second signal during the 
battle, so that every captain did as he pleased. 

The English are very deficient in signals as well as in 
naval tactic. This I know, having in my possession their 
present fighting and sailing instructions, which comprehend 
all their signals and evolutions. Lord Howe has, indeed, 
made some improvements by borrowing from the French. 
But Kempenfelt, who seems to have been a more promising 
officer, had made still greater improvement, by the same 
means. It was said of Kempenfelt, when he was drowned 
in the Royal George, England had lost her du Pavillion. 
That great man, the Chevalier du Pavillion, commanded 
the Triumphant, and was killed in the last battle of Count de 
Grasse. France lost in him one of her greatest naval tac- 
ticians, and a man who had besides the honor, in 1773, to 
invent the new system of naval signals, by which 1600 
orders, questions, answers, and informations, can, without 
confusion or misconstruction, and with the greatest celerity 
be communicated through a great fleet. It was his fixed 
opinion that a smaller number of signals would be in- 
sufficient. 

A captain of the line must at this day be a tactician. A 
captain of a cruising frigate may make shift without having 
ever heard of naval tactics. Until I arrived in France and 
became acquainted with that great tactician Count D'Orvil- 
liers, and his judicious assistant the Chevalier du Pavillion, 
who each of them honored me with instructions respectincr 



241 

the science of governing the operations, 6ic. oi a fleet, 1 
confess I was not sensible how ignorant I had been before 
that time, of naval tactics. I have already said, there were 
three grades of sea lieutenants, established by the act of 
Congress, of the 22d of December, 1 775. If I may be 
allowed at this day to judge, it would be sound wisdom to 
re-adopt the same number of subaltern grades, exclusive of 
midshipmen, under the- same, or some other denomination. 
From the observations I have made, and what I have read, 
it is my opinion, that in a navy there ought to be at least as 
many grades below a captain of the line, as there are below a 
colonel of a regiment. Even the navy of France is defi- 
cient in subaltern grades, and has paid dearly for that error 
in its constitution, joined to another of equal magnitude, 
which authorizes ensigns of the navy to take charge of a 
watch on board ships of the line. One instance may be 
sufficient to shew this. The Zele, in the night between the 
11th and 12th of April, 1782, ran on board the Ville de 
Paris, which accident was the principal cause of the unfor- 
tunate battle that ensued next day between Count de Grasse, 
and Admiral Rodney. That accident in all probability 
would not have happened, had the deck of the Zele been at 
the time commanded by a steady experienced lieutenant of 
the line, instead of a young ensign. The charge of the 
deck of a ship of the line, should in my judgment never be 
entrusted to an officer under twenty-five years of age. At 
that time of life he may be supposed to have served nine or 
ten years, a term not more than sufficient to have furnished 
him with the necessary knowledge for so great a charge. It 
is easy to conceive that the mind of officers must become 
uneasy, when they are continued too long in any one grade, 
which must happen (if regard be paid to the good of the 
service) where there are no more subaltern grades than 
midshipman and lieutenant. Would it not be wiser to raise 
young men by smaller steps and to increase the number ? T 
have many things to offer respecting the formation of our 
navy, but shall here limit myself to one, which I think a pre- 
liminary to the formation and establishment of a naval con- 
stitution suitable to the local situation, resources, and preju- 
dices of the Continent. 

The constitution adopted for the navy in the year 1775 
and by which it has been governed ever since, and crumbled 
away I mav sav to nothing, is so very defective, thart I am 

Hh 



of opinion it would be difficult to spoil it. Much wisdom, 
and more knowledge than we possess, is in my humble 
opinion necessary to the formation of such a naval consti- 
tution as is absolutely wanting. If when our finances ena- 
ble us to go on, we should set out wrong, as we did in the 
35*^ year 1775, but much more so after the arrangement, or 
rather derangement of rank in 1776, much money may be 
thrown away to little or no purpose. We are a young peo- 
ple, and need not be ashamed to ask advice from nations 
older and more experienced in marine affairs than ourselves. 
This I conceive might be done in a manner that would be 
received as a compliment by several or perhaps all the ma- 
rine powers of Europe, and at the same time would enable 
us to collect such helps as would be of vast use when we 
come to form a constitution for the creation and government 
of our marine, the establishment and police of our dock- 
yards, academies, hospitals, &c., and the general police of 
our seamen throughout the Continent. These considera- 
tions induced me on my return from the fleet of his Excel- 
lency the Marquis de Vaudreuil to propose to you to lay my 
ideas on the subject before Congress, and to propose sending 
a proper person to Europe in a handsome frigate to display 
our flag in the ports of the different marine powers, to offer 
them the free use of our ports, and propose to them com- 
mercial advantages, &:c. — And then to ask permission to visit 
their marine arsenals,to be informed how they are furnished 
both with men, provision, materials, and warlike stores ; by 
what police, and officers they are governed, how and from 
what resources the officers and men are paid, iSic.-^-The line 
of conduct drawn between the officers of the fleet, and the 
officers of the ports, &c. — Also the armament and equipment 
of the different ships of war with their dimensions, the num- 
ber and qualities of their officers and men, by what police 
they are governed in port and at sea, how and from what re- 
sources they are fed, clothed and paid, &c. ; and the gene- 
ral police of their seamen, academies, hospitals, &c. If 
you still object to my projects on account of the expense of 
sending a frigate to Europe and keeping her there till the 
business can be effected, I think it may be done, though per- 
Iiaps not with the same dignity, without a frigate. My plan 
for forming a proper corps of sea officers, is by teaching them 
the naval tactics in a fleet of evolution. To lessen the ex- 
pense as much as possible, I would compose that fleet of fri- 



# 



243 

gates instead of ships of the line : on board of each I would 
have a little academy, where the officers should be taught 
the principles of mathematics and mechanics, when off duty. 
When in port the young officers should be obliged to attend 
at the academies established at each dock -yard, where they 
should be taught the principles of every art and science thai; 
is necessary to form the character of a great sea officer. And 
every commission officer of the navy should have free access, 
and be entitled to receive instruction gratis at those acade- 
mies. All this would be attended with no very great ex- 
pense, and the public advantage resulting from it would be 
immense. I am sensible it cannot be immediately adopted, 
and that we must first look about for ways and means ; but 
the sooner it is adopted the better. We cannot, like the 
ancients, build a fleet in a month, and we ought to take ex- 
ample from what has lately befallen Holland. 

In time of peace it is necessary to prepare, and be always 
prepared for war by sea. I have had the honor to be pre- 
sented with copies of the signals, tactics, and police that have 
been adopted under the diflferent Admirals of France and 
Spain during the war, and have in my last campaign seen 
them put in practice. While I was at Brest, as well as 
while I was inspecting the building of the America, as I had 
furnished myself with good authors, I applied much of my 
leisure time to the study of naval architecture and other 
matters that relate to the establishment and police of dock- 
yards, &c. I however feel myself bound to say again I 
have yet much need to be instructed. 

Disappointed in the command of the America, and un- 
willing to remain an idle spectator of the passing scene, 
Commodore Jones exerted himself to obtain permission 
from Congress to join the French fleet then in the United 
States, under the command of the Marquis de VaudreuiJ, 
on an expedition against the island of Jamaica. In this 
application he was successful, being aided by his friend the 
Hon. R. Morris, who procured for him the gratification of 
his wishes : 

Marine office, Oct. 9th, 1782. 
Chevalier Paul Jones, Portsmouth. 

Sir, 
I have received your letter of the 22d of last month. 
The sentiments contained in it will always reflect the high- 



'ii 



* 



est honor upon your character. They have made so strong 
an impression upon my mind that 1 immediately transmit- 
ted an extract of your letter to Congress. 1 doubt not but 
they will view it in the same manner which I have done. 

I am, &c. 

Robert Morris. 

Marine office, Philadelphia, J^ov. 2dth, 1782. 

The President of Congress. 
Sir, 

I do myself the honor to enclose your Excellency the 
copy of a letter received this morning from the Chevalier 
Paul Jones. The present state of our affairs does not 
permit me to employ that valuable officer, and I confess 
that it is with no small degree of concern that I consider 
the little probability bf rendering his talents useful to that 
country, which he has already so faithfully served, and with 
so great disinterestedness. 

His present desire to be sent with the Marquis de Vau- 
clreuil to join Count d'Estaing on his projected expedition 
from Cadiz against Jamaica &;c., consists with all his for- 
mer conduct ; and it will, I dare say, be a very pleasing 
reflection to Congress, that he is about to pursue a know- 
ledge of his profession, so as to become still more useful if 
ever he should be again called to the command of a squad- 
ron or fleet. I should do injustice to my own feelings, as 
well as to my country, if I did not most warmly recommend 
this gentleman to the notice of Congress, whose favor he 
has certainly merited by the most signal services and sa- 
crifices. 

I have the honor to be, &c. 

R. Morris. 

By the United States in Congress assembled, December 

4th, 1782. 

On the report of a committee to whom was referred a 
letter of the 29th November, from- the agent of marine, 
enclosing a copy of a letter of the same date to him from 
Capt. J. P. Jones — 

Resolved, That the agent of marine be informed that 
Congress having a high sense of the merit and services of 
Capt. J. P. Jones, and being disposed to favor the zeal 
manifested by him to acquire improvement in the line of 
his profession, do grant the permission which he requests ; 



24o 

and that the said agent be instructed to recommend him ac- 
cordingly to the countenance of his Excellency the Mar- 
quis de Vaudreuil. 

Extract from the minutes. 

George Bond, Dep, Secretary/. 

Extract from the Journal of Commodore John Paul Jones, 
prepared by him for his Majesty, Louis XVI. 

When I foresaw that the plan concerted between M. La 
Luz-erne and Mr. Morris,'according to all appearances, would 
not succeed, I addressed Congress without loss of time. On 
the 4th of December, 1782, I obtained an act of that body 
permitting me to embark on board the fleet of your Majes- 
ty, at Boston, under the command of the Marquis de Vau- 
dreuil, for the purpose of joining the Count D'Estaing in 
his expedition against Jamaica. 

The appearances were very favorable, since of all those 
who were appointed to serve in this expedition, no one knew 
the island of Jamaica so well as myself; and as the Marquis 
D'Estaing had commanded a fleet of more than seventy sail 
of the line, and a large body of troops, I had the flattering 
hope of finding myself in the first military school in the 
world, in which I should be able to render myself useful, 
and to acquire knowledge very important for conducting 
great military operations. 

M. de Vaudreuil received me with distinction on board 
his own vessel, the Triumphant, and lodged me in his cham- 
ber of council, with M. le Baron de Viomenil, who com- 
manded the troops. By order of the Marquis de Vaudreuil, 
a squadron, consisting of ten sail of the line, two frigates, 
and a cutter, left Boston the 24th of December. The in- 
tention of the Marquis was to join, off Portsmouth, two other 
ships of the line, the Augustus and the Pluto, which were 
then in that port, and under the command of his brother, 
(for the America was not then ready to put to sea ;) but a 
storm and contrary winds prevented this junction, and pla- 
ced the squadron in a dangerous situation, from the proxi- 
mity of ice and the Bay of Fundy. The Admiral then made 
an attempt to join the Fantasque, with the troops which he 
brought from Rhode-Island, with the same results. The 
squadron having lost sight of many vessels laden with troops, 
and twenty merchant vessels from Boston, directed its course 
towards the island of Porto Rico. 



i^^ 



V '246 

When they came within sight of this island, the Marquis 
de Vaudreuil learnt that Admiral Hood was cruising off Cape 
Francois, with 16 sail of the line, and that Admiral Pigot, 
with a larger force, was at St. Lucie, so that the enemy 
would necessarily consider the squadron of the Marquis de 
Vaudreuil an easy prey, which could not escape from Hood 
or from Pigot. 

M. le Marquis de Vaudreuil remained off St. John's, Porto 
Rico, for ten days, and made all kinds of naval evolutions, 
and then he took sixteen sail of merchantmen, arrived from 
France, and convoyed them to the west end of that island. 

Some light vessels of observation, which Admiral Hood 
had sent on a cruise, perceived the squadron in the Mona 
Passage, and went immediately to inform him that the Mar- 
quis de Vaudreuil had sailed by the south side of St. Do- 
mingo, in order to go to some port on the west of that isl- 
and, or on the east of Cuba, for his expedition against Ja- 
maica. They were mistaken : the squadron directed its 
course to the south, more to windward, and passed in sight 
of the island of Cura^oa, near the coast of South-America. 

The rendezvous which had been fixed between Don So- 
lano and the Marquis de Vaudre lil, at Cape Fi-ancois, after 
the defeat of Count de Grasse, was kept in the greatest se- 
crecy, and no person had the least suspicion that it was Porto 
Cabello, about 20 leagues to the windward of Cura(joa. — 
The squadron beat against the wind for three weeks along 
the coast, against a current which drove the merchant ves- 
sels out of sight to the leeward 5 and as he had neither pilots 
nor good charts of this coast on board the squadron, the 
Bourgoyne, of 74 guns, ran upon a rock in the night, about 
two leagues from the coast, and was entirely lost, with 200 
men, including officers, among the number was the first lieu- 
tenant. The Triumphant arrived at Porto Cabello the 1 8th 
of February, 1783; the Augustus and Pluto had arrived 
some days before, and the other vessels of the fleet betook 
themselves, one after another, to places of safety. 

Don Solano was to have joined the Marquis de Vaudreuil 
at Porto Cabello in December. He did not keep his word, 
and no news was received of his squadron at Porto Cabello. 
The anxiety which this disappointment occasioned, while 
at the same time no news was received from Europe, so 
affected the spirits of many of the officers that they fell sick, 
and I myself was dangerously ill. 



247 

Finally, the news of a general peace was brought liom 
France by a frigate. The most brilliant success, and the 
most instructive experience in the art of war, could not 
have given me a pleasure comparable to that which I recei- 
ved when I learned that Great Britain, after so long a con- 
test, had been forced to acknowledge the independence and 
sovereignty of the United States of America. 

On the 8th of Apiil, 1783, the day after the cessation of 
hostilities, the squadron left Porto Cabello, and after a pas- 
sage of eight days, arrived in safety at Cape Francois. 

The Spanish fleet had left Havana for Porto Cabello, and, 
on learning the news of the peace at Porto Cabello, directed 
its course for Cape Francois, and arrived there some days 
before the Marquis de Vaudreuil. 

I delayed but little time at Cape Francois, where I recei- 
ved the particular attentions of M. Belle Combe, the Go- 
vernor. I embarked then foi' Philadelphia, penetrated with 
gratitude for all the attentions which had been shewn me by 
the Marquis de Vaudreuil, Baron Viomenil, and the other 
officers, during the five months I spent on board the fleet of 
your Majesty. 

My health was not confirmed during the rest of the sum- 
mer. I recovered it in the autumn, from the use of the cold 
bath. 

1 addressed myself then to Congress for authority to re- 
turn to Europe, and there to arrange with the court of France 
the payment of the prize-money due to the officers and men 
who had served on board the squadron which I had com- 
manded in Europe. And the Congress gave me the autho- 
rity, by a resolution passed at Princeton, the 1st of Sep- 
tember, 1783. 

Copy of a letter from His Excellency the Marquis de Vau- 
dreuil, Lieut. General of the Navy of France, Com- 
mander of the Royal and Military order of St. Louis, 
commanding the squadron of His Most Christian Majesty 
in the West Indies, to His Excellency the Chevalier de 
LA Luzerne, Minister Plenipotentiary of France in 
America. 

Sir," Cape Francois, April '20th, 1783. 

The peace which has been so much desired, and which 
is going to make the happiness of America, since it puts 
the seal to her liberty, terminates our projects. We shall 



•^ 24B 

sail for France in a week with the troops under the com- 
mand of the Baron de Viomenil. The other regiments 
will sail as soon as there will be vessels ready to transgfigrt 
them. *»X 

Mr. Paul Jones, who had embarked with me is about re- 
turning to his dear country. I was very glad to have him. 
His well deserved reputation had made him very accepta- 
ble to me, not doubting but that we would have had some 
opportunities in which his talents might have shone forth ; 
but peace, of which I cannot but be glad, puts an obstacle 
in the way ; — so we must part. Permit me. Sir, to request 
of you the favor of recommending him to his superiors. 
The intimate acquaintance which I made with him since 
he has been on board the Triumphant, makes me take a 
lively interest in what concerns him, and 1 shall be vciy 
much obliged to you if you will find the means of being 
serviceable to him. 

Peace will not restore you to your country. On account 
of the great services which you render to France, it will be 
necessary for you to remain in America a long time; 
but you have the consolation to be amongst a people who 
love and respect you : thus it is for you a second home, 
which you have acquired by your virtues and talents. 
I am, &;c. 

Le Marquis de Vaudreuil. 

Desirous of procuring a final adjustment of the claim for 
prize-money due in Europe to himself and others, the Che- 
valier Jones applied to Congress to be appointed agent for 
the settlement of that business. The Congress consented, 
and, on the first of November, 1783, passed the following 
resolution : — 

In Congress, November 1st, 1783. 

On the report of Mr. S. Huntington, Mr. A. Lee, and 
Mr. Duane, to whom were referred a letter from Capt. John 
Paul Jones to the agent of marines, of the 1 3th of October, 
and a letter from him to Congress, of the 1 8th of the same 
month, 

Resolved^ That Capt. John Paul Jones be and he hereby 
is recommended to the Minister Plenipotentiary of the Uni- 
ted States at the Court of Versailles, as agent, to solicit, 
under the direction of the said Minister, for payment and 
satisfaction to the officers and crews for all prizes taken in 



249 

Europe under his command, and to which they arc anpvise 
entitled. And the said Capt. John Paul Jones shall receive 
the commissions usually allowed in such cases out of the 
money which he shall recover, as agent for the said prizes, 
in full compensation for his services and expenses : Provi- 
ded alioays^ that the said Capt. John Paul Jones, previous 
to his entering upon the execution of the said trust, shall 
give to the Superintendent of Finance, for the benefit of all 
concerned, sufficient bonds, with good security, for the faith- 
ful discharge thereof, and for the just payment of the same 
to the said Superintendent of Finance, to be by him distri- 
buted to those persons who may be entitled thereto : 
« Resolved, Tliat the agent of marine provide Capt. Jones 
with a passage to France in the ship Washington. 

Repairing to Paris, he there found a competitor in M. Ic 
Ray de Chaumont, who claimed to have been the one who 
planned the expedition for intercepting the Baltic fleet, to 
have had the direction of it under the orders of the King's 
ministers, and insisted that, as the cost of the enterprise had 
been defrayed by the treasury of France, the distribution of 
the prize-money ought to be made in pursuance of the pro- 
visions of the ordinances of the kingdom, which would have 
caused a deduction of four deniers per livre, for the benefit 
of the Hospital of Invalids, at Paris. To these pretensions, 
Jones replied with considerable acrimony. He contended 
that the force he commanded was under the commission, 
laws, and flag of the United States ; that the officers and 
men were engaged, as under his command, in the American 
navy; that he received his orders, as an American officer, 
from the Minister of Congress ; and that, consequently, the 
captors were entitled to be treated according to the laws of 
the navy of the United States. He remarked, moreover, 
to the Marshal de Castries, the Minister of Marine, that 
whatever understanding there might have been between the 
two governments, respectihg the expense of the armament, 
it made not the least difference to the captors. The fol- 
lowing correspondence will, evince the indefatigable indus- 
try of the commodore, the zeal with which he prosecuted 
the interests of the brave men who served under his com- 
mand, in 1779, in endeavoring to influence the French 
court in favor of their rights, and the success which attend- 
ed his efforts. It will show that, in a just cause, he was a? 

li 



2jO 

tiitrepid in his contests in the cabinet as on the ocean, and 
that his knowledge of the human character was in each situ- 
ation aUke useful to him. 

To the Honorable Captain John Paul Jones, Commander 
in the service of the United States of America. 

In pursuance of a resolution of Congress of the first of 
November, 1783, a copy whereof is hereunto annexed, I do 
hereby authorize and direct you to solicit, as agent, fbr pay- 
ment and satisfaction to the officers and crews, citizens or 
subjects of the said United States, for all prizes taken in 
Europe under your command, and to which they are in any- 
wise entitled, and in whose hands soever the prize-money 
may be detained. 

Given at Passy, this 17th day of December, 1783. 

B. Franklin, Minister Plenipotentiary from 
the United States of America at the 
Court of France. 

Paris, February Isf, 1784. 
His Excellency the Marechal Castries, 
Minister of Marine. 
My Lord Marechal, 
As 1 wish to give your Excellency as little trouble as may 
be respecting the money arising from the prizes taken by the 
squadron I had the honor to command in Europe, I have 
waited since the duy you did me the honor to present me 
to His Majesty until this moment, in order to give you suffi- 
cient time for any arrangement that you might find essential, 
before the division should take place between the ships and 
vessels that composed the force under my command when 
the prizes were taken. I now do myself the honor to trans- 
mit you the enclosed official letter on that subject, from Mr. 
Franklin, Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States, 
containing a copy of my credentials, as agent, fi'om Congress, 
of which 1 had occasion to render an account on my arrival. 
I also enclose a statement of the force, in guns and men, of 
each ship and vessel that composed the squadron 1 command- 
ed, which is the only paper essential to the first division of 
the prize-money. It is the custom, in cases like the present, 
to multiply the number of the crew by the sum of the calibre 
of the cannon mounted on board each ship. The product 
gives the intrinsic force, in proportion to which the share of 



251 

the prize-money arising to each ship is determined. On 
that ground it is my duty to claim the proportion arising to 
the Bon homme Richard and the AUiance ; their propor- 
tions will afterward be divided by the American Superin- 
tendent of Finance, agreeably to the rules of the American 
navy, between the officers and crews of these two ships. 

The subdivision of the shares of the other ships and ves- 
sels, in proportion to their force in men- and metal, of the 
prizes in which they are concerned, will remain with your 
Excellency to determine as may be most agreeable to the 
respective officers and men. As those ships and vessels 
were entirely His Majesty's property, and their officers and 
men composed of French subjects, I do not presume to in- 
terfere in their respect any farther than to pray your Excel- 
lency, in the most earnest manner, to render them and all 
concerned that immediate justice to which all Europe knows 
their distinguished services so highly entitle them. As near- 
ly four years and a half have already elapsed since those 
captures were made, I rely on the kind promise you gave 
me that the prize-money shall now be immediately settled. 
1 am, with profound respect, my Lord Marechal, 
Your most obedient and most humble servant. 

Paris, February 18<A, 1784.. 
His Excellency the Marechal de Castries, &c. 
My Lord Marechal, 

I have examined, as you desired, the account that was 
laid before your Excellency by M. Chandon, on the papers 
that have by your orders been put into his hands by M. Ic 
Ray de Chaumont, relative to the prizes that were made by 
the squadron I had the honor to command in Europe, under 
the flag and commission of the United States, and under the 
orders of Mr. Franklin, the American Minister Plenipoten- 
tiary at the court of France. 

Permit me, my Lord, before I make any observations on 
the account, as it there stands, to lead back your attention 
to some circumstances whiclf 1 presume induced the govern- 
ment of France to ask, first of Mr. Franklin, and afterward 
of the other American Commissioners, that I might be per- 
mitted to remain in Europe to command such expeditions, 
with a force at the expense of France, but under the flag 
and commission of America. 



My conduct from the beginning of the war till the cap- 
ture of Gen. Burgoyne had so much commended me to the 
favor of Congress, that I was sent to Europe with the news 
of that glorious event, and with orders to the American 
minister in France to put under my command, in addition 
to the ship I then had, a very large frigate mounting a bat- 
tery of 36 pounders, then at Amsterdam called the Indien. 
Soon after I came to France, the treaty of Alliance was 
concluded, and the property of the Indien was with my con- 
sent assigned over to the King, on account of difficulties 
that arose in Holland about getting that ship to sail. On the 
10th of February, 1778, being at Nantes, and having there 
received some very particular and late advice from America 
respecting the pretended force of the British ships and vessels 
of war under Lord Howe, I wrote to Mr. Deane and commu- 
nicated the exact plan that was afterward adopted, from Tou- 
lon, under the command of the Count de Estaing, which, had 
it been immediately adopted from Brest, would have put an 
end to the British power in America. Soon afterward, when 
the alliance between France and America was announced, I 
transmitted my ideas through Count D'Orvilliers, at Brest, 
to M. de Sartine. I proceeded into the Irish Channel, 
made several descents, took and destroyed a number of 
ships, *and among other prizes brought in with me a British 
frigate of superior force, that had been sent out expressly 
to take me. I also made prisoners, and brought with me 
twice the number of my crew. It was, as Mr. Franklin in- 
formed me by a letter dated at Passy, June 1st, 1778, the 
account that had been given of my conduct &;c. by Count 
D'Orvilliers that then determined the government of France 
to invite me to remain in Europe. I received from the 
then minister of marine the most flattering hopes and promi- 
ses, but his performance fell far short. He received from 
me through the hands of M. Le Ray de Chaumont, many 
ideas on the secret expeditions I wished to have command- 
ed ; among which were the interception of the Baltic 
fleet, and the destruction of the Hudson's Bay establish- 
ment. I was, however, trifled with for more than a year, 
before I could say I had a force under my command. This 
was, I think, owing chiefly to the ill-judged confidence 
which the minister placed in M. de Chaumont, who showed 
neither judgment nor secrecy. On that account many en- 
terprises were laid aside that I had brought almost to the 



253 

point of execution. On the last instance of this kind a 
number of troops had arrived at L'Orient, and in the mo- 
ment when I expected them to have embarked, with their 
general the Marquis de la Fayette the expedition was laid 
aside. I was then charged with a convoy with troops and 
military stores for the diflerent ports and garrisons in the 
Bay of Biscay, and on my return to L'Orient to drive the 
enemy's privateers out of the bay, had M. de Chaumont then 
remained at Paris instead of meeting me again, as he did at 
L'Orient, that want of subordination which was so fatal to 
my projects would have been avoided. If your Excellency 
will- please to call for my official letter written at the Texel 
the 3d of October, 1779, you will be convinced that if M. 
de Chaumont had confined himself to his own duty, which 
was that of commissary of the armament, and not interfered 
with, or caballed against mine, as the military commander, I 
might have rendered many more important services. I 
might have taken eight sail of homeward bound East India 
ships, which entered Limerick in Ireland without convoy, 
three days after 1 was obliged to leave the entrance of that 
port, and of which I had received particular advice from 
England, before I left France. I might have taken or des- 
troyed the whole Baltic fleet, which would have prevented 
Admiral Rodney from relieving Gibraltar. I might have 
destroyed or laid under contribution various towns and 
their shipping round the Irish and British coasts. And I 
might have entered the Texel with my ships in such good 
condition as might have enabled me to take under my con- 
voy the Indien, and a large fleet of transports, loaded with 
stores and materials for the marine, that then waited there 
for my escort for Brest. That these projects failed must 
stand to M. de Chaumont's account. I shall say but little 
of the services that were actually performed, of which, how- 
ever, the prizes taken and sent into port, or destroyed, make 
but the least part. I expected at that moment, that a great 
army would have made a descent in the south of England, 
under the cover. of the combined fleets; and it was there- 
fore of the utmost consequence to make a great diversion in 
the north to favor that design. I think I may say 1 did my 
duty in that respect, and though almost left alone, nothing 
but a tempest that arose in the moment when I should 
have made a descent, could have hindered me from laying 
Leith, and perhaps Edinburg too, under contribution. I 



254 

need not mention that admiral Rodney was detained two 
months in port by my affair with the Baltic fleet ; or that 
my situation in Holland, and before I arrived there, caused 
no less than 42 British ships of war and frigates to be sent 
in pursuit of me, and posted to intercept me in every quar- 
ter. And the world knows that my conduct in the Texel 
was a great cause of the British resentment against Hol- 
land, and stands as the first article in the declaration of war 
against that republic. On the whole, my Lord, it cannot be 
admitted that the government of France having generously 
taken by the hand the young Republic of America, and hav- 
ing been so beneficent as to arm and support a naval force 
at His Majesty's expense, under the commission and flag of 
America, should wish to put the Americans who served as 
the oflicers and men, under any other laws than those of 
Congress, \vhich I here subjoin, and agreeably to which I 
pledged myself to every individual among them at the time 
when I engaged them, viz : 

" In Congress, Wednesday, October 30th, 1776. 

Resolved, That the commanders, officers, seamen, and 
marines in the Continental navy, be entitled to one half of 
merchantmen, transports, and storeships by them taken, from 
and after the first day of November, 1776, to be divided 
among them in the shares and proportions fixed by former 
Resolutions of Congress : that the commanders, oflicers, 
seamen and marines of the Continental navy be entitled to 
the who-le value of all ships and vessels of war belonging to 
the crown of Great Britain by them made prize of, and all 
privateers authorized by his Britannic Majesty to war against 
these States, to be divided as aforesaid." 

.The Americans were every one of them treated at their en- 
listment, and during the whole service, by the laws of the 
American flag, and the few of them who were paid their wa- 
ges, were paid by the rules of Congress, from which, neither 
my duty as their agent, nor my honor as their commander, can 
now permit me to recede. As I went into the Texel in obe- 
dience to orders, and as my prizes and prisoners were there 
taken out of my hands, a circumstance of inexpressible morti- 
fication to me, and remained in the direction of the Due de 
la Vauguyon, they were not at the risk of the captors ; and, 
therefore, the expenses made in Holland, cannot stand 
against the sale of the prizes. I admit that the Serapis had 



need of repairs in the upper-works and masts, but being a 
new ship that had cost the British government 50,000 
guineas, I deny that she wanted either anchors or cables 
while in my hands. The Countess of Scarborough sustain- 
ed little or no damage in the battle, and therefore had as 
little need of repairs. It cannot be made appear from the 
sale of that ship or the Serapis, that they fetched a greater 
price on account of any repairs at the Texel : the Serapis 
arrived at L'Orient dismasted and in a worse condition than 
when she entered the Texel, and as the officers of the port 
of L'Orient cut to pieces and destroyed her orlop-deck 
with all the magazines and store-rooms, &c. before I knew 
any thing of the matter, (which obliged me to make a jour- 
ney to Pans, to obtain an order from government for the 
sale of my prizes agreeably to the laws of the American 
flag) I think if the account was fairly stated there would be 
an indemnification due to the captors for the injury thereby- 
done to their hardly earned property, without their leave or 
consent. As the captors w;ere not consulted respecting the 
expense of the Serapis at Dunkirk, nor the disarmament of 
that ship at L'Orient, which were no advantage to her sale, 
those articles ought not to stand against them in the ac- 
count. And I never heard that even the owners of pri- 
vateers, far less an established government, had charged the 
captors with the expense of provision for themselves or 
their prisoners ! The expense made by Captain Cottineau 
regards not the captors : it is for him to shew his authority 
for having made that expense, and the vouchers to support 
the different articles. I remember that I sent M. Chamil- 
lard express from the Texel to Versailles, on my arrival ; 
but that was surely a necessary expense of the armament, 
and cannot regard the captors. Whether M. Le Ray de 
Chaumont is indebted to the government, or the govern- 
ment is, as he says, indebted to him, is a matter that ought 
not to regard the captors, but they have a right to claim the 
protection of government to force M. Le Ray de Chaumont 
to render the money with interest, which he has unjustly- 
detained from them for four years and a half, while many of 
them are perishing, with cold and hunger. 

In short, it can make no difference to the captors whether 
the ships that I commanded under the flag and commission 
of Congress were owned by the King or by the United 
States. Therefore I am ready to admit all regulations and 



25C 

charges on the s^le of my prizes, which have been usually 
admitted on other prizes sold in France, and taken by fri- 
gates owned by Congress. Bat 1 am persuaded that you 
will not think it just that any thing should be deducted from 
the shares of the Americans, on account of the Hospital of 
Invalids at Paris ; as they receive no benefit from that 
hospital, but have on the contrary been pensioned by 
Congress for the wound? they have received. 

I am, with full confidence in your justice and generosity, 
my Lord Marechal, Yours, &;c. 

Paris, March 6th, 1784. 

The Marechal de Castries. 
My Lord Marechal, 

Mr. Chardon has just now put into my hands a letter writ- 
ten to your Excellency by M. le Ray de Chaumont, dated at 
Passy the 9th instant ; — M. le Ray de Chaumont appears by 
that letter to insinuate that 1 was under his orders. That 
insinuation merits nothing but my contempt. He might as 
well pretend that the Marquis de la Fayette, with whom I 
had the honor to be joined in command for an important ex- 
pedition, (which failed only through the unwise confidence 
that had been placed in the secrecy of M. le Ray de Chau- 
mont by the Minister of marine,) was also under his orders. 
For my own part, as I had served with reputation in Ame- 
rica from the beginning of the war, and was through Mr. 
Franklin, in consequence of the high opinion the minister 
had of my bravery and good conduct, &;c., invited by the 
government to remain in Europe to command secret expe- 
ditions, with a force at the expense of the King but under 
the commission, laws, and flag of the United States, I made 
it a condition that I should receive orders only from the mi- 
nister, or ministers of Congress ; and while I remained in 
Europe I never received any other. I had before that time 
declined to accept a captain's commission in the Royal 
navy, which Count d'Orvilliers had otfered to procure 
for me ; and at any time, and in every situation I would have 
disdained to prostitute my honor under the orders of so light- 
headed a man as M. le Ray de Chaumont. He seems to 
claim also the idea for intercepting the British Baltic fleet, 
an idea which did not originate either with the minister or 
M. le Ray de Chaumont, but which had been, with many 
others, suggested to government by myself at, and before the 



2Di 



time when I was tirst invited to come from Brest lo Ver- 
sailles. But I beg leave to refer your Excellency to the 
Marquis de la Fayette who knows that M. le Ray de Chau- 
mont was regarded only as a simple commissary, and was 
therefore under my orders, instead of my being under his. 
I aver, that if M. le Ray de Chaumont had not been entrusted 
with the secret of the service intended, the views of the 
minister would have been not only fulfilled, but far exceed- 
ed. 1 had, however, a much greater latitude given me by 
my orders from Mr. Franklin than M. Chaumont seems to 
imagine : and it is clear from the strong and pointed letter 
of recommendation which I carried with me to Congress, 
approving and applauding my whole conduct, that the King 
and his ministers were perfectly satisfied, and even asked of 
Congress to send me back again to Europe, to command a 
larger force, which would have been done if the circum- 
stances of America had not rendered it impracticable. 

M. le Ray de Chaumont seems to be ignorant that the 
American agent in Holland had, and can have, no power 
whatever over the property of the captors. It is a power 
which even Congress has not reserved, and which is contrary 
to the established laws of the American navy. As to de- 
ducting from the prize money four deniers per livre for the 
Hospital of Invalids at Paris, because the expense of the ar- 
mament I commanded was taken from the funds of the 
royal navy, &c., I presume M. le Rayde Chaumont might, 
with more modesty, have spared that observation to your 
Excellency. It is certain that the government of France 
foresaw that an expense would attend the armament I was 
so generously invited to command under the laws and flag of 
America, and it is not my place, much less that of such a 
man as M. le Ray de Chaumont, to intrude such pitiful ob- 
servations as may militate against, or diminish the value of 
such delicate acts of friendship between two allied nations. 

I can only recur to facts mentioned to your Excellency in 
my former letters, viz. — The force I commanded, was under 
the commission, laws, and flag of the United States, and the 
officers and men were engaged under my command, as in the 
American navy. I received my orders as an American of- 
ficer from the Minister of Congress, and it follows that the 
captors are entitled in every light to be treated exactly by 
the laws of the American navy. And whatever understand- 
ing there may have been between the two governments 

Kk 



2:)ii 

msptcting the expense of the annament, it makes nut 11r' 
least difference to the captors. 1 but ask for justice for the 
brave men I commanded, and I expect no less from a gene- 
rous mind like yours. 

I am, with profound respect, &c. 

Paris^, March 26th, 1784. 
My Lord Marechal, 

The within copy of a letter which I had the honor to re- 
ceive yesterday from Mr. Franklin, will convince you that 
he never consented, and could not consent to the manner 
■proposed by your predecessor, and by M. le Ray de Chau- 
mont, for settlement of the prize money due to the Ame- 
rican officers and men who served under my orders in 
Europe. 

I will not now complain that the prisoners which I took, 
and carried to Holland were not exchanged for the Ameri- 
cans who had been taken in war upon the ocean, and were 
long confined in English dungeons by civil magistrates, as 
traitors, pirates, and felons. I will only say, / had such a 
promise from the Minister of marine. It was all the reward 
I asked, for the anxious days and sleepless nights I passed, 
and the many dangers 1 encountered, in glad hope of giving 
them all their liberty, and if I had not been assured that Mr. 
Franklin had made an infallible arrangement with the courts 
ef France and England for their immediate redemption, 
nothing but a superior force should have wrested them out 
of my hands, till they had been actually exchanged for the 
unhappy Americans in England. 

PassT/, March 25th. 1 784. 

The Hon. Paul Jones, Esq., Paris. 

' Sir, 

I return herewith the papers you communicated to me 
yesterday. I perceive by the extract from M. de Sartine's 
letter, that it was his intention all the charges which had 
accrued upon the Serapis and Countess of Scarborough, 
should be deducted from the prize-money payable to the 
captors, particularly the expense of victualling the prison- 
ers and seamen, and that the liquidation of those charges 
should be referred to me. This liquidation however, never 
was referred to me ; and if it had, I should have been cau- 
tious of acting in it, having received no power from the 
captors, either French or Americans, authorizing me to de- 



m^ 



2a9 

ciAe upon any thing respecting their interests. And i ce.r-. 
tainly should not have agreed to charge the American cap- 
tors with any part of the expense of maintaining the 500 
prisoners in Holland till they could be exchanged, when 
none of them were exchanged for the Americans in England, 
as was your intention, and as we both had been made to 
expect. 

With great esteem, I have the honor to be, &ic. 

B. Franklin. 

13//?, 1784. 



His Excellency the Marechal de Castries. 
Mv Lord Marechal, 

I am exceedingly sensible of the favor you did me yes- 
terday by having the goodness to relinquish the claim that 
was made, for deducting four deniers per livre for the Hos- 
pital of Invalids at Paris, from the prize money due to the 
Americans who served in the squadron I had the honor to 
command in Europe. And as you have been so obliging 
as to postpone your orders for the tinal liquidation of the 
prize money, till I have time to show you more particular 
causes than I have yet done, why the expenses incurred in 
the Texel should cot be taken from the property of the cap- 
tors, I have no doubt but that the following circumstances 
will induce your Excellency to relinquish that charge, which 
is now the only difficulty remaining. 

i- I was ordered by Mr. Franklin to enter the Texel the 
last of September, but I could not reach it, notwithstand- 
ing my best endeavours, till the 3d of October. Therefore, 
I had not time to have previously landed the prisoners in 
France. And as the Bon homme Richard sank after the 
battle, it was absolutely necessary that the prizes, the Sera- 
pis and Countess of Scarborough, should accompany the Al- 
liance and Pallas into the Texel ; for those two last-men- 
tioned ships had not sufficient water and provision, and 
(being crowded with the remains of the crew of the Bon 
homme Richard) would not contain the prisoners, which 
were between five and six hundred in number. During 
the whole time, which was three months in the Texel, the 
Serapis, and Countess of Scarborough were employed as 
prison-ships, and the small repairs of those two prizes in 
that road make but an inconsiderable part, a sixth perhaps, 
r»f the whole expense ; so that the service they performed 



2ii0 



# 



was at least worth the repairs they received. Had it nat 
been for the prisoners, the Serapis and Countess of Scar- 
borough, after they were taken, might have been immedi- 
ately ordered for French or American ports ; for they had 
plenty of water and provision, and the Serapis was made 
perfectly manageable, and sailed fast under her jury-masts; 
so that they could have been out of danger before the enemy 
had placed their cruising squadrons to intercept them : 
whereas by their being detained till the middle of winter 
in the Texel, where they were blockaded by the enemy, 
they ran an infinitely greater risk ; and therefore the 
captors had a just right to look upon government as the 
assurers of those prizes. — Mr. Chaumont persuaded the 
minister of marine to take the Serapis for the king, without 
exposing that prize to sale. The minister sent his orders 
in consequence to L'Orient ; and the people of that port 
destroyed the orlop-deck, magazines, store-rooms, galleries, 
breast-works, and barricades, &c. in order to make such 
alterations in that prize as they thought fit. When I saw 
this, I came from L'Orient to court, and the minister was 
so much convinced that Mr. Chaumont's advice was wrong, 
that he, without difficulty, gave immediate orders for the 
public sale of all my prizes, agreeably to the laws of the 
American navy. But the Serapis was much more damaged 
by the operations just mentioned, that had been made pre- 
viously to her sale, than the value of her repairs in the 
Texel ; to say nothing of her having been dismasted and 
losing anchors and cables by violent weather, on her pas- 
sage from the Texel to L'Orient : therefore, taking all cir- 
cumstances together, the repairs in the Texel were far from 
being of any advantage to her sale. She cost the King at 
public sale only 240,000 livres ; whereas she had when 
new, six months before, cost the British government 50,000 
guineas. — The expense in the Texel arose chiefly from the 
provision that was supplied from Amsterdam for the pri- 
soners and the crews of the ships that guarded them ; and 
from the provision, repairs, and outfits for the frigates the 
Alliance and Pallas, and the small brigantine Vengeance. 
Now if any part of those expenses were chargeable to the 
captors, the same principle carried a little farther, would 
make them liable for the first cost and second outfit of the 
armament before the squadron sailed from France, and 
oblige them to sustain the loss of the Bon homme Richard, 



20 1 

If America had asked of France to support that armament 
under the Continental flag, or if I had asked for that com- 
mand, the matter might have had a different complexion. 
But it was an act of the King's free bounty, and his Majes- 
ty is too generous to lessen it by any afterclaims that are 
beneath his dignity. — If it were asked why Americans 
should be placed on a more favorable footing than the sub- 
jects of France ? I would answer that question by asking, 
why Americans should be expected to accept an invitation 
from France which should put them on a more unfavorable 
footing than that on which France found them ? Does not 
France pay foreign troops in her service more than she 
pays her own subjects ? 

Permit me my lord to conclude, by saying that no equal 
expense in the war was made with so great effect, or had 
such good consequence, as that made by the ships I com- 
manded in the Texel ; since Holland was thereby drawn 
into the war, without which the world would not have been 
this day at peace. — Had I known any thing of the order of 
the minister to Mr. Chaumont respecting the expense in 
the Texel, I am certain that, on my representation, he would 
have revoked it, as he did his order to the commandant at 
L'Orient respecting the alteration of the Serapis ; both of 
which Mr. Chaumont obtained by misrepresenting facts, 
and by falsely saying it was the desire of Mr. Franklin. 
I am, with profound respect, &:c. 

Paris, Mv. 6th, 1784. 
His Excellency the Marechal de Castries. 

Mv Lord Marechal, 
By the state of the liquidation and repartition of the 
prizes, taken by the squadron I commanded in Europe, 
which you signed the 23d of last month, I find there is an 
error made in the proportion due to the Vengeance. That 
tender was armed with only twelve four-pounders and sixty 
men, as you will see by the enclosed certificate of the 
second lieutenant. I am exceedingly sorry for this mistake, 
which ought to have been avoided. I beseech your Ex- 
cellency to give orders that it may be rectified. 

I am, with respect, &;c. 

Paris, June 23d, 1785, 
His Excellency the Marechal de Castries. 

My Lord Marechal, 
Bv the letter vour Excellency did me the honor to write 



*■'*(■. 



■' J»v,. 



2d2 

I- 

lue on the 1 3th of May last, you were pleased to promise 
that as soon as M. Chardon should have sent you the liqui- 
dation of my prizes ^^ which you expected without delay,'*' 
you would take measures for the payment, and that you 
would let me know. 

From the great number of affairs more important that en- 
gage your attention, I presume this little matter which con- 
cerns me in a small degree personally, but' chiefly as the 
agent of the brave men who served under my orders in Eu- 
rope, may have escaped your memory. Since the first of 
November, 1783, when I received authority to settle this 
business with your Excellency, 1 have been waiting here for 
no other purpose, and constantly expecting it to be conclu- 
ded from month to month. To say nothing of my expenses 
during so long an interval, the uncertainty of my situation 
has been of infinite prejudice to my other concerns. My 
long silence is a proof that nothing but necessity could have 
prevailed on me to take the liberty of reminding your Ex- 
cellency of your promise. I hope for the honor of your 
final*determination, and I am, with great respect. 

Yours, &c. 

Paris, 1785. 

His Excellency the Marechal de Castries. 
My Lord Marechal, 

By the letter your Excellency did me the honor to write 
me the 27th ult., you are pleased to desire me to address 
myself to the Ordonnateur at L'Orient for the payment of 
the prizes made by the squadron I had the honor to com- 
mand, and you are pleased to inform the Marquis de la 
Fayette, that you had assigned the funds necessary for that 
object. I have the honor to remind your Excellency that I 
came from America to France in the character of agent for 
the American captors, who served in the Bon homme Rich- 
ard, and in the Alliance. Therefore, that no misunderstand- 
ing may ensue between myself and the Ordonnateur at 
L'Orient, I must pray you, my lord, to give orders that the 
shares due to those two ships, (after deducting what is due 
to the subjects of France who served in the Bon homme 
Richard,) may be immediately paid into my hands in mass, 
agreeably to your Excellency's decision, in the state of the 
liquidation of my prizes, which you signed the 23d of Octo- 
ber last, and conformable to the powers with which I am 



vested, which were announced to you by the Minister ple- 
nipotentiary of the United States, in a letter dated in De- 
cember, 1783. 

I am my lord, with profound respect, &:c. 

Paris, July ^th, 1785. 

His Excellency the Marechal de Castries. 
My Lord Marechal, 

I had the honor to reply the 23d of last month to the letter 
your Excellency did me the honor to write me on the 17th. 
I enclosed a copy of my public credentials, and referred you 
on the subject of my mission from Congress to an official 
letter written to you by the Minister plenipotentiary of the 
United States, dated the 18th of December, 1783. From 
these documents, and as I have already given ample security 
to the United States, for the faithful performance of the 
trust reposed in me by the act of Congress, of the 1st of No- 
A^ember, 1783, I naturally concluded that you would imme- 
diately see the impropriety of my giving you the security 
of a subject of France for funds arising from my prizes, 
which belong to the subjects of the United States. If it 
were possible that any doubt could remain in your mind res- 
pecting my public mission, I should refer you to a letter 
Avhich I had the honor to put into your hands on my return 
to France, from the Chevalier de la Luzerne. As particu- 
lar reasons render it extremely inconvenient, if not impos- 
sible for me to attend this business any longer, I shall take 
the liberty to wait on your Excellency to-morrow, to be fa- 
vored with your final determination. 

I am, with great respect, yours, &;c. 

Paris, July 10th, 1785. 

His Excellency the Marechal de Castries. 
My Lord Marechal, 

J have the honor to enclose an official answer from Mr. 
Jefferson, Minister plenipotentiary from the United States 
at the Court of France, to a letter written to him yesterday 
by your Excellency, on the subject of my mission from 
Congress, to settle with you the claims of the subjects of 
America, on the prizes that were taken in Europe by the 
squadron I commanded. 

Mr. d'Umons informed me yesterday that the concerned 
in the privateer La Granville, had, a few days ago, claimed 
a share in two of my prizes, the May-Flower;, and the For- 



!2G4 

tune, by virtue ol' a sentence given to that cftect by a conn 
of justice. To that sentence 1 can ojffer no objection ; be- 
cause the La Granville was present when those two prizes 
were taken. But since the sentence of the court has very 
pointedly excluded the La Granville from any share in the 
other prizes, that were taken by the squadron after that ves- 
sel had returned to a port of France, I beg leave to submit 
to your Excellency to decide the question, whether the cap- 
tors who purchased the other prizes, and particularly the 
Serapis, at the expense of their blood, will not have reason 
to be discontented if the Cerf, that returned to a port of 
France at the same time with the La Granville, should be 
allowed to share in all the prizes ? 

Whatever may be your Excellency's determination on 
that point, it can make no diiference to me, as far as I am 
personally concerned, and I mention it again now because, 
should you think fit to order a new arrangement in that res- 
pect, it can, under the present circumstances, give no addi- 
tional trouble to the " Bureau." 

I am with great respect, yours, &:c. 

DOrient, July 29th, 1785. 
His Excellency Thomas Jefferson, Esq. i 

Minister Plenipotentiary of the United > 

States to the Court of France. 3 

Sir, 

I have been with M. Clonet, the Ordonnateur here, to 
whom the Marechal de Castries sent orders, the 15th of this 
month, to pay into my hands the money arising to the sub- 
jects of the United States from the prizes taken by the squad- 
ron I commanded in Europe. I find that a French mer- 
chant, M. Puchilberg, of this place, who opposed Dr. Frank- 
lin, and did all in his power to promote the revolt that took 
place in the Alliance, has produced a letter of attorney which 
he obtained from the officers and men of that frigate when 
their minds were unsettled, authorizing him to receive their 
share in the prizes. And notwithstanding the orders of the 
Marechal of the 15th, I find there is a disposition here to 
pay the money to M. Puchilberg, in preference to me. 

When 1 undertook the difficult and disagreeable business 
of settling for the prize-money with the Marechal de Cas- 
tries, I thought it necessary, to prevent any reflection on my 
conduct, to give security for two hundred thousand dollars 



•i05 

to remit the money I recovered to the treasury ol the Uui- 
ted States, to be from thence divided among the persons 
concerned. Not to mention the great expense I have been 
at, and the loss of two years of my time since the peace, to 
obtain a settlement, I may be permitted to say, that M. Pu- 
chiiberg was at no expense, and never took any effectual 
steps to obtain a settlement of the prize-money ; and it would 
have been very difficult, if not impossible, for him to have 
obtained any satisfaction for the concerned, because no other 
man but myself, (except Dr. Franklin, who would not act,) 
could have explained, at Versailles, the nature and circum- 
stances of my connexion with that court. And I may add, 
that M. Puchilberg will not, and cannot, if he had the best 
intentions, do justice to the subjects of America. He has 
given no security to do them justice. He has no authentic 
roll of the crew of the Alliance, which can only be had in 
America, and he is unacquainted with the manner of classing 
the officers and men in the division of prize-money by the 
laws of the American flag. 

What I request of you, therefore, is, to write to the court 
to obtain an explicit order from the Marechal de Castries to 
M. Clonet, to pay into my hands the whole mass of the 
prize-money that appears due to the Alliance, and also ti© 
share of the Bon homme Richard, (after deducting the pro- 
portion due to the French volunteers, who were embarked 
on board the ship as marines.) 

As my situation here is exceedingly disagreeable, because 
till this new difficulty is I'emoved I cannot receive any part 
of the money that appears due, I shall hope to be relieved 
from my embarrassment as soon as possible, by a letter from 
you. 

They have objected here, that the captain of the Alliance 
was born in France. But he had abjured the church of 
Rome, and been naturalized in America, (as his officers re- 
ported to me,) before he took command of the Alliance, and 
his crew were all the subjects of the United States. 

I am sorry to give you this trouble, but I am convinced 
that the business would have continued in suspense for a long 
time, if I had not come here myself. 

I am, with great esteem and respect. Sir, Yours, &c. 

N. B. M. Clonet has written to court by this post, there- 
fore it will be nec€96arv to make your application immedi- 

LI 



260 

ately. M. Barcley can give you the character of iVL Fu- 
chilberg. 

UOrient^JulyZUt^llZb. 
Plis Excellency Thomas Jefferson, Esq. 
Sir, 

I had the honor to write you the 29th of this month, pray- 
ing you to address the court to prevent M. Puchilberg, a 
French merchant here, from receiving the prize-money due 
to the subjects of the United States vs^ho served on board the 
squadron I commanded in Europe. I have done my duty, 
and with great trouble and expense both of time and money, 
obtained a settlement in their favor from government. But 
if M. Puchilberg, (who has taken no trouble, and been at 
no expense to obtain a settlement,) should receive the mo- 
ney, the greatest part of it will never reach America, nor 
find its way into the pockets of the captors. Were M. Pu- 
chilberg the most honest man in the world, he cannot, at this 
distance from America, and being ignorant of the laws of the 
American flag, do justice to the concerned. Besides, a pre- 
ference is due to the application of one government to ano- 
ther for what regards the interests of its subjects, especially 
where it is clear that every caution has been observed for 
obtaining justice to each individual. 

The enclosed copy of a letter, which has just now been 
communicated to me, from Monsieur de Soulanges, k M. M. 
les Juges Consuls, dated at Toulon, the 14th day of this 
month, announcing that the Algerines have declared war 
against the United States, is of too serious a nature not to 
be sent immediately to you. 

This event may, I believe, surprise some of our fellow- 
citizens ; but, for my part, I am rather surprised that it did 
not take place sooner. It will produce a good effect, if it 
unites the people of America in measures consistent with 
their national honor and interest, and rouses them from that 
ill-judged security which the intoxication of success has pro- 
duced since the revolution. 

My best wishes will always attend that land of freedom, 
and my pride will be always gratified when such measures 
are adopted as will make us respected as a great people 7cho 
deserve to be free. 

1 am, Sir, with great esteem, &;c. 



-267 

Copie de la lettre de M. Soulanges, a M. M. les Juges et 
Consuls de Nantes. 

Toulon, le 14 Jullief, 1785. 

M. le Commandeur de Scgondes, qui arrive d' Alger sur 
la fregate la Minerve qu'il commande, M. M. ma rendu 
compte en Mouillant dans cette radc, que cette Regence 
faisvit armer 8 batiments, tant chebecs que barques, depuis 
18 jusqu' a 34 canons destines a croiser du Cap St. Vincent 
aux Azores, pour y prendre les Americains, a qui ils deck- 
rent la guerre. Je vous en donne avis sur le champ, M. M., 
tant pour les interets que votre place peut prendre dans ces 
batiments, que pour que vous veuilles bien en donncr avis 
aux capitaines Americains. 

Les Algeriens ont une autre division de 4 batiments, mais 
trop petits pour donner de Pinquietude dans nos mers. 

Soulanges. 

UOrient^ August 17th, 1785. 

His Excellency Thomas Jefferson, Esq. 
Sir, 

I am still waiting for a decision respecting the claim ol' 
M. Puchilberg. But I think it my duty to inform you that 
one or two of the common sailors that served on board the 
Alliance, when that frigate was under my orders, are now 
here in a merchant vessel, and, as I am this moment in- 
formed, they have been persuaded to write to M. Puchil- 
berg, desiring that their share in the prizes may not be sent 
to America, but paid to them here. This I am told, has 
been urged as a reason to the Marechal to induce him to 
decide in favor of M. Puchilberg's claim. Those two men 
will, however, sail in a day or two for Boston, and perhaps 
may never return to France ; besides, their objection is too 
trifling to be admitted, as it would greatly injure the other 
persons, both officers and men of that crew, who would, in 
all probability, never receive any part of their prize money 
unless they should come from America to L'Orient on pur- 
pose ; which would not pay their expenses. 

As the post is just going, 1 must defer answering the let- 
ter you did me the honor to write me on the 3d, till another 
opportunity. 

I am with great esteem, &c. 

N. B. I beg you therefore to write again to the Mare- 
<^hal de Castries. 



26ii 



UOrient, August Idth, 1786. 

His Excellency Thomas Jefferson, Esq. 
Sir,' 

I am by this day's post honored with yours of the 13th 
current, which appears to have been intended to be for- 
warded by M. Carnes. I esteem myself particularly obliged 
by that mark of your attention ; but as there is no mention 
made of my letter to you of the 31st ult. I presume it has 
miscarried, and it is therefore that I have now written the 
foregoing copy. The 6th of this month, finding a ship here 
bound directly for Philadelphia, I sent a copy of Monsieur de 
Soulanges' letter to Mr. Jay for the information of Congress. 
I had the honor to write to you on the 17th to inform you, 
that I was just then told that two of the seamen, formerly of 
the Alliance frigate, who are now here in a brig belonging 
to Boston, have been wrought upon by an expectation of 
immediately receiving their prize money, to desire that M. 
Puchilberg might, in their name, object to sending the prize 
money of the Alliance to America. That brig is now at Port- 
Louis, and will sail for Boston it is supposed to-morrow 
morning. I am with great esteem, &c. 

UOrient, August 24«//, 1785. 

His Excellency Thomas Jefferson, Esq. 
Sir, 

I yesterday received the letter you did me the honor to 
write me on the 17th, mentioning the difficulty made by 
the Marechal de Castries in his letter to you of the 12tb, 
and that you had removed ^ that difficulty by your answer. 
I am exceedingly sensible of the favor you do me by your 
attention to my situation here ; and it gives me great con- 
cern that it is not in my power to send you the roll you 
ask for of the crew of the Alliance. The rolls were in the 
proper time sent to court, and put into the hands of Mr. de 
Sartine by M. Genet, first Commissioner of foreign affairs, 
the certificate of which I have among my papers at Paris ; 
and the Marechal de Castries might remember that 1 show- 
ed him and that he read that certificate. Those rolls, how- 
ever, have been mislaid or lost in the bureau. Copies of 
them were sent at the same time to Dr. Franklin, who I 
suppose, put them into the hands of M. Le Ray de Chau- 
mont ; but since my return, I never could obtain any ac- 
count of them. A third set of the rolls T carried with me 



to America, and before 1 embarked in the French fleet at 
Boston I put them into the hands of Mr. Secretary Living- 
ston ; and they were sealed up among the papers of his 
oflice when I left America. It is, however, impossible that 
any legal demands should be made on you for French sub- 
jects in consequence of your engagement to the Marechal. 
The Alliance was manned in America, and I never heard of 
any person's having served on board that frigate who had 
been born in France except the captain, who, as I was in- 
formed, had in America abjured the church of Rome and 
been naturalized. 

I have made all the inquiry I have been able here re- 
specting the expedition you mentioned in a former letter ; 
but I have not obtained much satisfaction. I propose to go 
to Brest. 1 am, &:c. 

U Orient, September 5th, 1785. 

His Excellency Thomas Jefferson, Esq. 
Sir, 

I am just returned here from Brest, where I have passed 
several days. I have received your letter of the 29th ult. 
with the copy of that written to you by the Marechal de 
Castries, the 26th, and I have reason to expect in conse- 
quence, that my affairs here will be finished as soon as the 
formalities of the bureau will permit. I shall obtain a roll 
of the Alliance, conformable to the pretensions of Puchil- 
berg ; which though perhaps not quite exact, may how- 
ever answer all your purposes. I really do not believe that 
ever any claims will be made on you ; for I never heard 
that any French subject had served on board that frigate 
except the captain, and I commanded the Alliance in per- 
son seven months. 

I am, Sir, &c. 

N. B. I take the liberty to enclose a letter for M. Led- 
yard. It contains a small bill. If he is not at Paris, I re- 
quest you to keep the letter till I come. 

Paris, October 8th, 17S5. 
His Excellency Thomas Jefferson, Esq. 

Sir, 
As the Baron de Waltersdorff does not return here, as was 
expected, and I wish to apply, without farther loss of time 
to the Court of Denmark, for a compensation for the pri- 
zes taken by the squadron I commanded in Europe, and 



210 

given up to the British, by the people in authority at Ber- 
gen in Norway ; if you approve it, I will assign the powers 
I received, for that business from Congress, to my friend 
Dr. Bancroft in London. You will oblige me therefore, if 
you will write to Mr. Adams, requesting him to support 
Dr. Bancroft's application through the Danish minister in 
London. 

I am, with great respect and esteem, &:c. 

Paris, February 2Bth, 1786. 
His Excellency Thomas JEFFERSON.'Esq. 

Dear Sir, 
I received the kind note you wrote me this morning, on 
the occasion of receiving my bust ; I offered it to you as 
a mark of my esteem and respect for your virtues and ta- 
lents. It has been remarked by professed judges that it docs 
no discredit to the talents of M. Houdon ; but it receives 
its value from your acceptance of it, with the assurance 
you give me of your particular esteem, which will ever be 
felt by me as an honor truly flattering. 

I am, dear Sir, with great esteem, &c. 

Paris, August 9th, 1786. 

His Excellency Thomas Jefferson, Esq. 
Sir, 

As it now appears by the reply 1 have just received from 
Mr. Adams, dated London the 17th of last month, which I 
had the honor to communicate to you, that his letter to the 
Baron de Waltersdorff, respecting my prizes delivered up 
to the English at Bergen in Norway, in the year 1779, by 
the court of Denmark, has not been answered ; and as the 
Baron de Waltersdorff is now gone to the West Indies, and 
Mr. Adams advises me in his letter, to apply to the Danish 
Minister at his court ; it now becomes my duty to ask your 
advice and assistance in the steps that remain to be pur- 
sued, to obtain a compensation from the government of 
Denmark for those prizes. 

And in order to give you the necessary information on 
this subject, I here subjoin some extracts from the papers 
left in my hands by Mr. Franklin, to wit : 

No. 1 . Extract of a letter from Monsieur Duchezaulx, 
Consul of France, to M. Caillard, Charge des affairs du 
Roi ^ Copenhagen, dated a Berghen en Norvege le 14 
July 1779. 



271 

•• Les deux dites prises son! considerables ; elles etoient 
armees en guerre et en marchandises, et les commandants 
pourvus de commissions aux Lettres de Marque ; savoir 
L^ Union de Londres, du port de 400 tonneaux arme de 22 
canons de 6, et 4 livres de balie, plusieurs pierriers et au- 
tres armes ; charge de cables, cordage, et toile a voile, enfin 
tout ce qu'il faut en ce genre pour le grement de sept 
Batiments de guerre, avec plusieurs autres etFets, destines 
pour Quebec ; et le Betsey de Liverpool, du port de 350 
tonneaux arme de 20 canons de 6, et de 2 de 9 livres de 
balle, 12 pierriers et autres armes, charge de fleur de farine, 
boeuf, et lard sales, et autres provisions et marchandises des- 
tines pour la Nouvelle York, et la Jamaique. Les deux car- 
gaisons peuvent etre evaluees au moins un million de livres." 

No. 2. Extract from a letter written by the Consul of 
France, before mentioned, to Dr. Franklin, minister of 
America at the coui't of France, dated a Berghen le 26 
Oct. 1779. 

" II mest douloureux au de la detoute expression, d'avoir 
a vous informer aujourdhui, que les deux prises the Bet' 
sey and the Union., ont ete ces jours ci restitnees aux An- 
glais, en vertu d'une resolution emanee du Roi de Dane- 
mark : Resolution injuste et contraire au droit des gens." — 

No. 3. Extract from the same letter. 

" La valeur de ces deux prises que Ton vous enleve in- 
justement, est au moins de 40,000/ sterling, independam- 
mentdes Frais et I'argent debourse par les banquiers M. M. 
Danekert and Krohn, dont je vous remettrai le compte." — 

No. 4. Extract of a letter from all the American officers 
in Norway to Dr. Franklin, minister of America in France, 
dated Bergen, Jan. 4th, 1780. 

"The Brigantine Charming Polly., which arrived 14 
days after us, was likewise delivered up in the same man- 
ner." — 

No. 5. Extract of a letter from the same officers to Dr. 
FrankHn, dated at Bergen, April 1 1th, 1780. 

" Our expenses while on board the ships, were paid by 
tlie English Consul ; and those since, by the King of Den- 
mark ; which enables us to proceed without drawing bills 
upon France. — We have also the protection of the Danish 
flag till our arrival in France." — 

After my return here from L'Orient, you remember I 
was prevented, by circumstances, from pursuing the ap- 



plication to the Court of Denmark, in person. The bills 
I had received were not yet payable, and I thought it would 
be necessary for me to go to America in the spring, to de- 
posit the prize-money received from this government, in 
the Continental treasury; so that I was prevented from 
going to the Court of Denmark. And there being no 
Danish minister here, nor expected here during the winter, 
you remember your having approved of my deputizing Dr. 
Bancroft to solicit the Court of Denmark, through the 
Danish minister in London ; and that you was so obliging 
as to join me in requesting Mr. Adams to support that ap- 
plication. 

But as experience has now shewn that this method is 
slow and uncertain ; and as the late order of the Board 
of Treasury respecting the prize-money I have recovered, 
makes my return to America, on that account, at present 
unnecessary ; I presume the best thing I can do will be to 
proceed to Copenhagen, and there make application to that 
court. If you approve of this, it would be useful for me 
to have a letter from the Count de Vergennes to the Baron 
de la Houze, minister of France at the Danish Court, di- 
recting him to support my reclamation. — The interference 
of this government may be asked for with propriety, be- 
cause the King had the gallantry to support under the flag 
of America, the squadron I commanded in Europe. — It is 
also to be wished that I could carry letters with me from 
the Danish minister at this court, and it is therefore very 
xmlucky that he is now absent at the waters. If you think 
fit to write to him, I can at the same time, obtain and for- 
ward a letter from his particular friend the minister of the 
Due de Wertemburg ; which may have a good effect. I 
am persuaded that the Count de Vergennes, on my own 
application to him, would immediately give me a proper 
letter to the Baron de la Houze ; but it will be more offi- 
cial to obtain it through your application, which I therefore 
request. 

As 1 flatter myself that the Danish Court is still disposed 
to make a compensation, it is necessary for us now to de- 
termine on the lowest sum to be accepted. — Doctor Frank- 
lin, in his letter to me from Havre, says the result of his 
letter to a broker in London was, that those Quebec ships 
were worth 16 or 18 thousand pounds each. 1 have reason 
to believe that the two ships delivered up, with their car- 



273 

goes and armament, worth a greater sum. ^nd besides, 
you will observe thr\t the brigantine Charming Polly, was 
also delivered up. I cannot judge of the value of this last 
prize ; and perhaps it may be necessary for me to write to 
Bei^en to obtain information. 

« I am, with respect, &:c. 

Paris, Aug. 2L^/, 178G. 

His Excellency Thomas Jeffersox. Esq. 
Sir, 

I am much obliged by the letter you sent me from the 
Count de Vergennes to Baron de la Houze, with your own 
to the Baron de Blome. An indisposition, that has confined 
me close for three days, has prevented me from observing 
to you sooner, that Dr. Franklin, in the letter he wrote me 
from Havre, says, the offer made by the Baron de Wal- 
tersdorff was ten thousand pounds sterling. As you have 
misapprehended the amount of that offer, 1 take the liberty 
to return your letter to the Baron de Blome, praying you 
to alter the word five with your own hand. I should be 
glad to be favored with your opinion whether I ought to 
accept of any sum less than what was offered to Doctor 
Franklin ? It is very improbable that a less sum will be of- 
fered by the Danish ministers ; but supposing them less fa- 
vorably disposed now than formerly, it is necessary for us 
to be determined beforehand. 

I have the honor to be, <Src. 

Paris, Sej)t. 3d, 1786. 

His Excellency Thomas Jefferson, Esq. 
Sir, 

Since I had the honor of hearing from you last, my 
health has not permitted me to set out for Denmark. 
From the information I took at the Hotel of the Baron de 
Blome, I understood he was to arrive from the waters the 
30th ult., so that I thought it better to wait till I could sec 
him than to forward your letter. His servants arrived at 
the time that he was himself expected, and informed that 
the Baron had made a little jaunt to Geneva and would be 
at Paris the 1 5th of this month. — I now have the honor to 
send you the second copy of the rolls, &c., that you lately 
forwarded to the Board of Treasury. There is a sure op- 
portunity for London to-morrow at two o'clock. If you 
have any letters to send, or if you think fit to forward the 

M m 



iJT4 

papers respecting \he prize-money, 1 will give them in charge 
10 the person who will safely deliver them in London. 
I am, Sir, with great esteem and respect, yom-s, &c. 

Eventually, on the 1 5th of July, 1 785, the Marshal de 
Castries issued an order to pay over to Jones, at L'Orient, 
the money arising to citizens of the United States from the 
proceeds of the sale of the prizes taken by the squadron 
under his command in Europe. The sum total was 181,039 
livres, 1 sous, and 10 deniers. 

Although Congress had approved of the distribution of it 
imder the French ordinance, it will be seen in one of the 
following letters, that the King behaved with great hberality, 
not even retaining what he might have kept in conformity 
with the regulations of Congress : 

Paris, May 3th, 1786. 
The Honorable John Jay, Esq. Minister) 
for Foreign AlTairs, New- York. ) 

Dear Sir, 

The application I have made to the court of Denmark 
for a compensation for my prizes that were delivered up by 
that government to the British, not having yet produced a 
decision, prevents me from embarking, as was my intention, 
about this time for America. The prize-money arising from 
my negotiation with the court of France, due to the citizens 
and subjects of the United States, who served on board the 
Bon homme Richard and Alliance, (amounting in the gross 
to 157,483 livres, 6 sous, 10 deniers,) is now ready in my 
hands. I expect that the apphcation which is now depend- 
ing with the court of Deftmark will terminate so as to ena- 
ble me to embark for America before the month of Septem- 
ber. But lest a longer delay should be found necessary in 
Europe, and prevent my appearance in time for a passage 
after that date, I shall be ready to accept the drafts of Con- 
gress at Usance, for the amount in my hands. 

I say nothing of the amount of the allowance that ought 
in justice to be made for the great expense, trouble, and 
TimeM have devoted to this business from the 1st of No- 
vember. 1783. A commission on the sum recovered will 
certainly be no' indemnification for my expenses, far less a 
recompense for my time and trouble. 

I am. with great respect and esteem. <S:c. 



On the receipt of this infonnjition, Cangiess passed the 
subjoined resolution : — 

In Congress, June Tth, 178G. 

Resolved, That the Board of Treasury be directed to tak(> 
such measures as may appear to them to be most effectual 
for procuring accurate returns of the officers and men serv- 
ing on board the Bon homme Richard, commanded by John 
Paul Jones, and the frigate Alliance, commanded by Peter 
Landais, at the time the captures were made by the late 
squadron under the command of John Paul Jones : 

That the amount of the prize-money paid by Capt. John 
P. Jones to the order of the Board of Treasury, on account 
of the officers and crew of the vessels above-mentioned, be 
by the said Board distributed to the officers and men entitled 
to receive the same, or to their proper heirs or assigns, in 
proportion to the shares respectively due to them, agreea- 
bly to the returns above-mentioned, and the ordinances of 
Congress in that behalf made. 

Among the papers communicated by Mr. Jefferson for 
this work, is a statement of the settlement, which does not 
exactly correspond in the total amount as communicated to 
Mr. Jay. This may be accounted for, by supposing a pro- 
posed deduction in his favor, for additional expenses incur- 
red in his prosecution of the claim at the court of France, 
to which he refers in his correspondence vfith Mr. Jefferson : 

Paris, July 7th, 178G. 
Amount of prize-money belonging to the American part 
of the crew of the Bon homme Richard, (and to some few 
foreigners, whose names and qualities, «&:c., are inserted in 
the roll,) with the amount, also, of the prize-money belong- 
ing to the crew of the Alliance ; received at L'Orient, by 
■order of the Marechal de Castries, in bills on Paris, 

Livres. S. i), 
181,03» 01 10 

From which deduct, viz. 

Nett amount of my ordinary 
expenses since I arrived in Eu- 
rope to settle the prize-money 
belonging to the citizens and 
subjects of America, who serv- 
ed on board the squadron f 



« 



c*>ininandecl, under the flag of 
the United States, at the ex- 
pense of His Most Christian 
Majesty, stated to His Excel- 
lency Thomas JelFerson, Esq. 
the 4th of this month, 47,972 1 1 

Paid thfe draft of M. le Jeune, 
for the amount of prize-money 
due to Jacque Tual, pilot of 
the Alliance, 670 13 C 

Amount of prize-money paid 
iVI. de Blondel, Lieutenant of 
Marines of the Pallas, as stated 
on the roll of the Bon homme 
Richard, 283 00 

Advances made to sundry 
persons, which stand at my cre- 
dit on the roll of the Bon homme 
Richard, 264 09 6 

Advances made by me to 
sundry persons belonging to 
the Bon homme Richard : these 
advances do not stand at my 
credit on the roll settled at 
L'Orient, by M. le Jeune, be- 
cause the commissary had ne- 
glected to send him the origi- 
nal roll from the Bureau at 
Versailles ; but that commis- 
sary has rectified that omission 
by his certificates, dated Sept. 
5th, 1785, and Feb. 22d, 1786, 6,385 00 

My share by the roll, as cap- 
tain of the Bon homme Ri- 
chard, 13,291 05 6 68,866 19 Ot> 



Balance nett, 112,1720204 

Paul Jones. 

Paris, July 4th, 1786. 
His Excellency Thoaias Jefferson, Esq. 
Sir, 
I have the honor to enclose for your examination the do- 
cuments of my proceedings, with those of this government. 



->-77 

111 tlie settlement 1 have obtained of the prize-money belongs 
ing to the officers and crews of the squadron I commanded 
in the late war in Europe, at the expense of His Most Chris- 
tian Majesty, but under the flag of the United States. By 
those documents I presume you will be convinced that, from 
a want of sufficient knowledge of circumstances, it would 
have been very difficult, if not impossible, for any other 
man, (except Dr. Frankhn, who never would act in it,) to 
have gone through this business. Mr. Barclay made no 
progress in it, though he was charged with it by Congress 
two years and a half before I undertook it. I could not 
obtain an allowance in favor of the captors for the service 
of their prizes as prison-ships in the Texel, nor for the da- 
mage done to the Serapis at L'Orient, previous to her sale ; 
but I have taken care of the honor of the American flag. — 
The American captors pay nothing towards the support of 
the Royal Hospital of Invalids ; and His Majesty has gene- 
rously renounced, in favor of the captors, the proportion of 
the sale of the merchant prizes, which, by the laws of the 
flag of America, he might have retained. I ask the favor of 
you to return me those papers, with your observations. 

I enclose, also, a note of my expenses since I arrived in 
Europe on this business. When 1 am honored with your 
sentiments on this subject, I will prepare copies of the with- 
in papers, and, I flatter myself, comply to your satisfaction 
with the order you have received from the Board of Trea- 
sury; 

I have the honor, &:c. 

Paris, July 7th, 1786. 

His Excellency Thomas Jefferson, Esq. 
Sir, 

I have the honor to enclose and submit to your considera- 
tion the account I have stated of the prize money in my 
hands, with sundry papers that regard the charges. I can- 
not bring myself to lessen the dividend of the American cap- 
tors by making any charge either for my time or trouble. I 
lament that it has not yet been in my power to procure for 
them advantages as solid and extensive as the merit of their 
services. I would not have undertaken this business from 
any views of private emolument that could possibly have 
resulted from it to myself, even supposing I had recovered 
or should recover a sum more considerable than the penalty 



21 1 

ui my bon4. But I was anxious to force some ill-natureU 
persons to acknowledge that, if they did not tell a wilful 
falsehood, they were mistaken when they asserted " that I 
had commanded a squadron of privateers!" And, the war 
being over, I made it my first care to shew the brave instru- 
ments of my success that their rights are as dear to me as 
my own. 

It will, I believe, be proper for me to make oath before 
you to the amount charged for my ordinary expenses. 1 
flatter myself that you will find no objection to the account 
as I have stated it, and that you are of opinion, that after 
this settlement has been made between us, my bond ought 
1o stand cancelled, as far as regards my transactions with the 
Court of France. Should any part of the prize money re- 
main in the treasury, without being claimed, after sufficient 
time shall be elapsed, I beg leave to submit to you — to the 
treasury — and to Congress, whether I have not merited by 
my conduct since I returned to Europe that such remainder 
should be disposed of in my favor ? 

I have the honor to be with great esteem, &:c. 

Paris, July lOth, 1786. 

His Excellency Thomas Jefferson, Esq. 
Sir, 

After what you mentioned to me before your favor of this 
date, respecting the imperfect powers you have received 
from the Board of Treasury, I did not expect you to 
make a settlement with me that should be final for the prize 
money I have recovered. But as I have produced, and still 
oflfer you proofs to support the charges I have made, I 
naturally flattered myself and 1 still hope you will do me the 
favor to receive and transmit them to Congress with your 
sentiments. This becomes the more necessary to me at 
present, because from what Dr. Bancroft tells me of the ap- 
plication to the Court of Denmark, it will be necessary for 
me to continue in Europe for some time longer, and to take 
your advice on some farther steps to obtain an answer from 
that government. 

With respect to the balance of the prize money I have re- 
covered, you may if you please give an immediate order on 
nte for the amount, or I will pay it into your own hands. 

I have the honor. &c. 



279 

Paris^ August lAilt. 1786. 

His Excellency Thomas Jefferson, Esq. 
Dear Sir, 

I send you herewith the rolls of the Bon homme Ri- 
chard and Alliance, with copies of the other papers in 
French, respecting the prize money of the squadron I 
commanded. They are numbered from 1 to 23, and I have 
left them open for your inspection. I rely on the good 
effect of your observations that will accompany them, with 
the papers in your hands, to Congress, and have no doubt 
but that my conduct will in consequence be approved. 
The second set of papers are not yet finished, but will be 
ready in a few days so as to be forwarded by the next good 
opportunity, with the second set of the papers in English 
now in your hands. 

I have the honor, &c. 

Congress afterward confirmed the division of prize money 
made by the French government, and directed the distribu- 
tion thereof to be made amongst the ofiicers and crews of 
the Bon homme Richard and Alliance, on which subject 
that body passed the following resolution : — 

In Congress, October 11th, 1787. 

Congress took into consideration the report of a com- 
mittee consisting of Mr. Smith, Mr. Dane, Mr. Johnson, 
Mr. Carrington and Mr. Clarke, to whom had been com- 
mitted a report of the Board of Treasury, and a letter of 
the 1 8th of July, from Captain John Paul Jones, together 
with a report of the committee of accounts for the Marine 
department relative to the division of the prize money due 
to the officers and crews of the Bon homme Richard and 
Alliance, and the charges of Captain Jones for recovering 
the same. 

Resolved, That the quotas assigned to the several ships 
which were under the command of Captain John Paul 
Jones in Europe, by direction of the Court of France, be 
confirmed and considered as valid, and that a distribution 
of the prize money be made amongst the crews of the said 
ships, separately, agreeably to such quotas. 

Resolved, That the monies paid by Captain John Paul 
Jones into the hands of the Hon. Thomas Jefferson, be dis- 
tributed by the Board of Treasury, as soon as may be 
among the captors, agreeably to the division made there- 
of, under the direction of the Court of France. 



i8() 

in Virtue ol" the general authority given to the Chcvahri 
Jones to collect all the prize-monej due to American citi- 
zens in Europe, he turned his attention to the reclamation 
from Denmark of the value of the three ships sent into 
Bergen, in Norway. The Baron de Waltersdorff, the 
Danish minister at Paris, not returning in that capacity, and 
the Chevalier being anxious to accomplish his object, he 
proposed, with the approbation of Mr. Jefferson, on the 
8th of October 1785, to transfer the powers confided to 
him by Congress for that purpose, to his confidential friend 
Doctor Bancroft, then in London, and solicited Mr. Jeffer- 
son to write to his Excellency John Adams, the American 
minister near the Court of St. James, to lend his aid in en- 
forcing the demand. Mr. Adams wrote to Mr. Waltersdorff^ 
on the subject, urging the justice of the claim ; but no an- 
swer was returned, that minister of Denmark having de- 
parted for the West Indies. Mr. Adams advised the Che- 
valier to apply to the new Danish minister at Paris. This 
minister was absent, at the time, at some of the watering 
places, and Jones was inclined to proceed directly to Co- 
penhagen. To further his views, he procured, through the 
friendship of Mr. Jefferson, from the Count de Vergennes, 
a letter of introduction and favor to the Baron de la Houze, 
French minister plenipotentiary at the Danish Court. This 
letter is in these terms : 

Versailles, Aug. 15th, 1786.. 
The Baron De la Houze, Minister Pleni- 
potentiary to the King of Denmark. 

Sir, 

Mr. Paul Jones, an officer in the sea-service of the Uni- 
ted States of America, having some business and certain 
claims in Denmark, on account of prizes which he took 
during the last war, proposes going on these accounts to 
Copenhagen. You will be pleased. Sir, to receive this of- 
ficer favorably, to hear what he may wish to communicate 
on the subject of his claim, and to assist him with your 
counsels and good offices in case he should want them, du- 
ring his stay at your residence. 

I have the honor of being, with perfect regard, &lc. 

De Vergennes. 

Mr. Jefferson likewise gave the Chevalier a letter of in- 
troduction and friendship to the Danish Envov- Baron 



281 

Blome, who was expected to be in Paris again in a tew 
days. 

The value of the prizes sent into Bergen, was estimated 
at the highest, at about fifty thousand pounds steriing. A 
well informed English insurer, to whom application had 
been made, to ascertain for what amount they had been in- 
sured, considered them to be worth fr-om 16 to 1 8 thousand 
pounds sterling each ; and the Baron de Waltersdorff, on 
the part of his government had offered to pay ten thousand 
pounds as an indemnification : 

Havre, July2lsf, 1785. 

The Honorable Paul Jones. 
Dear Sir, 

The offer of which you desire I would give you the par- 
ticulars, was made to me by M. le Baron de Waltersdorff 
in behalf of his Majesty the King of Denmark, by whose 
ministers he said he was authorized to make it. It was to 
give us the sum of ten thousand pounds sterling, as a com- 
pensation for having delivered up the prizes to the English. 
I did not accept it, conceiving it much too small a sum, 
they having been valued to me at fifty thousand pounds. I 
wrote to Mr. Hodgson, an insurer in London, requesting 
he would procure information of the sums insured on these 
Canada ships. His answer was, that he could find no 
traces of such insurance, and he believed none was made, 
for that the government on whose account they were said 
to be loaded with military stores, never insured ; but by 
tlie best judgment he could make he thought they might, be 
worth about sixteen or eighteen thousand pounds each. 

With great esteem, &c. 

B. FrankliiV. 

In all his transactions at this period the Chevalier regu- 
larly consulted Mr. Jefferson, and kept up a correspond- 
ence with Dr. Franklin. Jones, however, suddenly sus- 
pended his journey to Copenhagen, and, as will be seen in 
the following letter to Mr. Jay, returned to America : 

New-York, My \8th, 1787. 
His Excellency John Jay, Esq. ) 
Minister of Foreign affairs. ) 

Sir, 
The application I made for a compensation for our 
N n 



prizes through the Danish minister in London not liaving 
succeeded, it was determined between Mr. Jefferson and 
myself, that the proper method to obtain satisfaction, was 
for me to go in person to the Court of Copenhagen. It 
was necessary for me to see the Baron de Blome before I 
could leave France on that business, and he being then 
absent on a tour in Switzerland did not return to Paris till 
the beginning of last winter. I left Paris in the spring, and 
went as far as Brussels on my way to Copenhagen, when 
an unforeseen circumstance in my private affairs, rendered 
it indispensable for me to turn about and cross the ocean. 
My private business here being already finished, I shall in 
a few days re-embark for Europe, in order to proceed to 
the Court of Denmark. It is my intention to go by the 
way of Paris, in order to obtain a letter to the French mi- 
nister at Copenhagen, from the Count de Montmorin, as 
the one I obtained is from the Count de Vergennes. It 
Avould be highly flattering to me if I could carry with me a 
letter from Congress to His Most Christian Majesty, thank- 
ing him for the squadron he did us the honor to support 
under our flag. And on this occasion. Sir, permit me, with 
becoming diffidence, to recal the attention of my sovereign 
to the letter of recommendation I brought with me from 
the Court of France, dated 30th May, 1780. It would be 
pleasing to me, if that letter should be found to merit a 
place on the journals of Congress. Permit me also to in- 
treat that Congress will be pleased to read the letter I re- 
ceived from the minister of marine, when his Majesty 
deigned to bestow on me a golden hiltcd_sword, emblema- 
tical of the happy alliance — an honor which his Majesty 
never conferred on any other foreign officer. I owed the 
high favor which I enjoyed at the Court of France, in a 
great degree, to the favorable testimony of my conduct, 
which had been communicated by his Majesty's ambassa- 
dor, under whose eye I acted in the most critical situation, 
in the Texel, as well as to the public opinion of Europe. 
And the letter with which I was honored by the prime 
minister of France, when I was about to return to America, 
is a clear proof that we might have drawn still greater ad- 
'vantages from the generous disposition of our ally, if our 
marine had not been lost whilst I was, by perplexing cir- 
cumstances, detained in Europe, after I had given the 
Count de Maurepas my plan for forming a combined squad- 



- i283 

ron of 10 or 12 sail of frigates, supported by the America, 
with a detachment of French troops on board, the whole 
at the expense of his Majesty. 

It is certain that 1 am much flattered by receiving a gold 
sword from the most illustrious Monarch now living ; but 
I had refused to accept his commission on two occasions, 
before that time, when some firmness was necessary to resist 
the temptation. He was not my sovereign. I served the 
cause of freedom, and honors from my sovereign would be 
more pleasing. Since the year 1775, when I displayed 
the American flag for the first time, with my own hands, I 
have been constantly devoted to the interests of America. 
Foreigners have perhaps given me too much credit, and 
this may have raised my ideas of my services above their 
real value, — but my zeal can never be overrated. 

I should act inconsistently if I omitted to mention the 
dreadful situation of our unhappy fellow-citizens in slavery 
at Algiers. Their almost hopeless fate is a deep reflection 
on our national character in Europe. I beg leave to influ- 
ence the humanity of Congress in their behalf, and to pro- ^, 
pose that some expedient may be adopted for their redemp- I 
tion. A fund might be raised for that purpose, by a duty 
of a shilling per month from seamens' wages throughout 
the continent, and I am persuaded that no difficulty would 
be made to that requisition. 

I have the honor to be &c. 

Jones when in France had transmitted information of the 
hostile designs of the Algerines against the American trade, 
in a copy of a letter from M. Soulanges, dated at Toulon, 
the 14th of July, 1785, written to the consular authorities 
in the ports of that kingdom. Annexed is a translation of it : 

" Toulon, July 14th, 1785. 
M. de Legordes, who has arrived from Algiers in the fri- 
gate Minerva, which he commands, has, on entering this 
road, given me information that that Regency had armed 
eight vessels, xebecks and barks, with from 18 to 34 guns 
each, destined to cruise from Cape St. Vincent to the 
Azores, to capture Americans, against whom they have de- 
clared war. I give you immediate advice of this circum- 
stance, gentlemen, as well on account of the interest your 
place may have in the cruise of these vessels, as to enable 
you to give notice of it to American captains. The Alge- 



lines have another division of four vessels, but too small to 
occasion any disturbance in our seas. 

^ SOULANGES." 

" This event," said Jones, writing to Mr. Jefferson, on 
the 31st July, 1785, " may, I believe, surprise some of our 
fellow-citizens ; but for my part I am rather surprised that 
it did not take place sooner. It will produce a good effect 
if it unites the people of America in measures consistent 
with their national honor and interest, and rouses them 
from that ill-judged security which the intoxication of suc- 
cess has produced since the Revolution." 

On the 3d of October, 1 787, the Chevalier Jones wrote 
farther to Mr. Jay : 

J^ew-York, October 3d, 1787, 
His Excellency John Jay, Esq. Minister } 
of Foreign Affairs, New-York. 5 

Sir, 
As Congress have now referred back to you for your re* 
port, the^chief part of the letter I had the honor to address 
you the 1 8th of July last, I beg leave to observe on the lat- 
ter part of that letter, respecting the fund I wish to see esta- 
blished for the redemption of our fellow-citizens at Algiers, 
that I had also in view, at the time, a national establishment, 
on the plan of the Greenwich Hospital in England, or Ho- 
tel des Invalides at Paris, which would be effected from the 
residue of the increasing fund I have proposed. I beg you, 
therefore. Sir, to take notice of this in your report. 
I have the honor to be. Sir, yours, &c. 

On perusing the subjoined resolutions and letter to the 
King of France, a just conception will be entertained of the 
high consideration in which the Chevalier was held by the 
United States in Congress assembled. They are sufficient 
to refute all the calumnies circulated against him by his 
enemies : 

In Congress, October 16th, 1787. 
Resolved unanimous h/, That a medal of gold be struck, 
and presented to tiie Chevalier John Paul Jones, in com- 
memoration of the valor and brilliant services of that offi- 
cer, in the command of a squadron of American and French 
ships under the flag and commission of the United States* 



V 



off the coast of Great Britain, in the late war ; and that the 
Hon. Mr. Jefferson, Minister Plenipotentiary of the United 
States at the court of Versailles, have the same executed, 
with the proper devices. 

Resolved^ That a letter be written to His Most Christian 
Ma.esty, informing him, that the United States in Congress 
assembled, have bestowed upon the Chevalier John Paul 
Jones this medal, as well in consideration of the distinguish- 
ed marks of approbation which His Majesty has been plea- 
sed to confer upon that ofhcer, as from a sense of his merit : 
and that, as it is his earnest desire to acquire greater know- 
ledge in his profession, it would be acceptable to Congress, 
that His Majesty would be pleased to permit him to embark 
with his fleets of evolution, convinced that he can no where 
else so well acquire that knowledge which may hereafter 
render him more extensively useful. 

Ordered^ That the Secretary for Foreign Affairs prepare 
a letter for the above purpose, to be signed by the Presi- 
dent ; and that the Chevalier Jones be the bearer of the said 
letter. 

In Congress, October 16th, 1787. 
The Secretary for Foreign Affairs reports : 
That, agreeably to the order of the 16th, he hath prepar- 
ed the following letter to His Most Christian Majesty, which, 
having been duly signed and countersigned, was delivered 
to the Chevalier John Paul Jones : 

Great and Beloved Friend, 

We, the United States in Congress assembled, in consi- 
deration of the distinguished marks of approbation with 
which your Majesty has been pleased to honor the Cheva- 
lier John Paul Jones, as well as from a sense of his merit, 
have unanimously directed a medal of gold to be struck and 
presented to him, in commemoration of his valor and bril- 
liant services, while commanding a squadron of French and 
American ships under our flag and commission, off the coast 
of Great Britain, in the late war. 

As it is his earnest desire to acquire greater knowledge in 
his profession, we cannot forbear requesting of your Majesty 
to permit him to embark in your fleets of evolution, where 
only it will be probably in his power to acquire that degree 
of knowledge which may hereafter render him more exten- 
lively useful. 



280 

Permit us to repeat to your Majesty our sincere assuran- 
ces, that the various and important benefits for which we 
are indebted to your friendship will never cease to interest 
us in whatever may concern the happiness of your Majesty, 
your family, and people. 

We pray God to keep you, our great and beloved friend, 
under his holy protection. 

Done at the city of New- York, the 16th day of Octo- 
ber, in the year of our Lord, 1787, and of our sove- 
reignty and independence, the 1 2th. 

In Congress, October 25th, 1787. 

Resolved, That the minister of the United States, at the 
Court of Versailles be and he hereby is authorised and 
instructed, to represent to His Danish Majesty, that the 
United States continue to be very sensibly affected by 
the circumstance of His Majesty having caused a number of 
their prizes to be delivered to Great Britain during the late 
war, and the more so, as no part of their conduct had for- 
feited their claim to those rights of hospitality which civi- 
lized nations extend to each other. That not only a sense 
of the justice due to the individuals interested in those pri- 
zes, but also an earnest desire, that no subject of discontent 
may check the cultivation and progress of that friendship^ 
which they wish may subsist and increase between the two 
countries, prompt the United States to remind His Majesty 
of the transaction in question ; and they flatter themselves that 
His Majesty will concur with them in thinking, that, as resti- 
tution of the prizes is not practicable, it is reasonable and 
just that he should render, and that they should accept a 
compensation equivalent to the value of them : 

That the said minister be authorized and instructed to 
settle and conclude the demand of the United States against 
His Danish Majesty, on account of the prizes aforesaid, by 
such composition and on such terms as may be the best in his 
power to obtain ; and that he be directed to retain in his 
hands all the money so recovered till the further order of 
Congress : 

That the said minister be, and he is hereby authorized, in 
case he shall think it proper, to despatch the Chevalier 
John Paul Jones, or any other agent, to the Court of Den- 
mark, with such powers and instructions relative to the 
above-mentioned negotiation as, in his judgment, may be 



287 , 

most conducive to the successful issue ihereoi ; provided, that 
the ultimate conclusion of the business be not made by the 
agent without the previous approbation of the said minister : 

That the person employed shall, for his agency in the 
business aforesaid, be allowed 5 per cent, for all expenses 
and demands whatever, on that account. 

Ordered, That the Board of Treasury transmit to the 
Minister of the United States at the Court of Versailles all 
the necessary documents relative to the prizes delivered up 
by Denmark. 

In Congress, October 26th, 1787. 
Ordered, That the Secretary of Congress inform the 
Chevalier John Paul Jones that the business relative to the 
prizes taken during the late war, and sent to Denmark, is 
put under the management of the Hon. Thomas Jefferson 
Minister of the United States at the Lourt of Versailles, and 
that he furnish Mr. Jones with a copy of such part of the 
Resolution as respects the appointment of an agent by Mr. 
Jefferson, relative to the said prizes. 

Chevalier Jones, in embarking again for Europe, evidently 
had some dread of falling into the power of the British. 
From what this apprehension proceeded is uncertain •, whe- 
ther from incidents in his life prior to his entering the Ame- 
rican service, or from the injury he had inflicted on British 
subjects during the Revolutionary war. It could hardly 
have been the latter ; for honored and protected as he was, 
by both America and France, it is not likely he would have 
apprehended molestation or capture for having participated 
in the war of the Revolution. Whatever the ground of 
his fears may have been, it is certain that he entertained 
them : for writing to Mr. Jefferson from New- York, on the 
24th of October, 1787, he said, " I should have embarked 
in the packet that will sail for Havre to-morrow morning; 
but an account having arrived here that the English fleet is 
out, and was seen steering to the westward, and that a British 
squadron is cruising in the North Sea, has induced me, with 
the advice of my friends, to postpone my embarkation till 
the next opportunity, an American ship, about the beginning 
of next month." 

The Chevalier reached Paris in December, 1 787, when he 
sent to Mr. Jefferson the annexed private note. What his 
"strong reasons" for temporary seclusion were, do not 
appear : — ■ 



288 

(Private.) Hotel de Beauvais rue des vieux Augustines. 

His Excellency Thomas Jefferson, Esq.- 

SiK, Paris, December X'ith, 1787.- 

I am just arrived here from England. I left New-York the 
11th of November, and have brought public despatches and a 
number of private letters for you. I would have waited on you 
immediately, instead of writing, but I have several strong reasons 
for desiring that no person should know of my being here till I 
have seen you, and been favored with your advice on the steps 
I ought to pursue. I have a letter from Congress for the King, 
and perhaps you will think it adviseable not to present it at this 
moment. I shall not go out, till I hear from, or see you. — And, 
as the people in this hotel do not know my name, you will please 
to ask for the gentleman just arrived, who is lodged in No. 1. 
I am with great esteem and respect, &c. 

When Jones vras in Europe in 1783, he was, by a letter 
from Dr. Franklin, of the 1 7th of Decemher of that year, 
authorized and directed to solicit justice from the Court of 
Denmark, in relation to the prizes sent into Bergen, and 
restored to the British. As far back as the 22d of Decem- 
ber 1779, Dr. Franklin had addressed a memorial to the 
prime minister of Denmark on the same subject. That pa- 
per is so characteristic of the philosophical turn of mind of 
our illustrious countryman, that it is offered to the perusal 
of the reader : 

Memorial sent to the Prime Minister of Denmark, by B. Franklin, 
Minister of the United States of America at Paris, respecting 
the prizes given up by Denmark to the English. 

Passy, near Paris, December 22d, 1779. 
Sir, 
I have received letters from M. de Chezaulx, Consul of France 
at Bergen in Norway, acquainting me that two ships, viz. the 
Betsy and the Union, prizes taken from the English on their 
coasts by Captain Landais, commander of the Alliance frigate, 
appertaining to the United States of North America ; which 
prizes having met with bad weather at sea, that had damaged 
their rigging, and occasioned lealcs, and being weakly manned, 
had taken shelter in the supposed neutral port of Bergen, in 
order to repair their damages, procure an additional number of 
sailors, and the necessary refreshments ; that they were in the 
said port enjoying as they conceived the common rights of hos- 
pitality established and practised by civilized nations, under the 
care of the above said consul, when on the 28th of October 
last, the said ships with their cargoes and papers, were suddenly 
i?eized by the officers of His Majesty the King of Denmark, to 



289 

whom the said port belongs, the American officers and seamen 
turned out of their possession, and the whole delivered to the 
English consul. 

M, de Chezaulx has also sent me the following as a translation 
of his Majesty's order,by which the above proceedings are said 
to be authorized, viz. : 

"The English minister having insisted on the restitution of the 
two vessels captured by the American frigate the Alliance, Cap- 
tain Landais, and which have been brought into Berghen, viz., 
the Betsey of Liverpool, and the Union of London, his Majesty 
has granted the demand, on the ground that he has not yet recog- 
nised the independence of the colonies associated against Eng- 
land, and because the vessels could not be considered as good 
and lawful prizes, the two said vessels are therefore declared 
free, and have liberty to depart immediately with their cargoes." 

By a subsequent letter from the same consul I am informed 
that a third prize belonging to the said United States, viz., the 
Charming Polly, which arrived at Bergen after the others, had 
also been seized and delivered up in the same manner, and that 
all the people of the three vessels being thus stript of their 
property, (for every one of them had an interest in the prizes,) 
were turned on shore to shift for themselves, without money, in 
a strange place, no provision being made for their subsistence, 
or for sending them baek to their country. Permit me, Sir, to 
observe on this occasion, that the United States of America have 
no war but with the Enj^lish. They havp npvp.r done any injury 
to other nations, particularly none to the Danish nation ; on the 
contrary, they are in some degree its benefactors, as they have 
opened a trade of which the English made a monopoly, and of 
which the Danes may now have their share, and by dividing the 
British empire have made it less dangerous to its neighbors. 
They conceived that every nation whom they had not offended, 
was by the rights of humanity their friend ; they confided in the 
hospitality of Denmark, and thought themselves and their pro- 
perty safe when under the roof of his Danish Majesty. But 
they find themselves stript of that property, and the same given 
up to their enemies, on the principle only, that no acknowledge- 
ment had yet been formally made by Denmark, of the independ- 
ence of the United States, which is to say, that there is no obli- 
gation of justice towards any nation, with whom a treaty promi- 
sing the same has not been previously made. This was indeed 
the doctrine of ancient barbarians ; a doctrine long since explo- 
ded, and which it would not be for the honor of the present age 
to revive ; and it is hoped that Denmark will not by supporting 
:ind persisting in this derision obtained of his Majesty apparenth 

O o 



290 

by surprise, be the first modern nation that shall attempt to te^ 
vive it.* N 

The United States oppressed by, and in war with one of the 
most powerful nations of Europe, may well be supposed incapa- 
ble in their present infant state, of exacting justice from other 
nations not disposed to grant it ; but it is in human nature that 
injuries as well as benefits received in times of weakness and 
distress, national as well as personal, make deep and lasting im- 
pressions ; and those ministers are wise, who look into futurity, 
and quench the first sparks of misunderstanding between two 
nations, which, neglected may in time grow into a flame, all the 
consequence whereof, no human prudence can foresee, which 
may produce much mischief to both, and cannot possibly produce 
any good to either. 

I beg leave through your Excellency, to submit these con- 
siderations to the wisdom and justice of his Danish Majesty, 
whom I infinitely respect, and who I hope will consider and re- 
peal the order above recited, and that if the prizes which I 
hereby reclaim in behalf of the United States of America, are 
not actually gone to England, they may be stopt and redelivered 
to M. de Chezaulx the said consul of France at Bergen, in whose 
care they before were, with liberty to depart for America, when 
the season shall permit. But if they shall be already gone to 
England, I must then reclaim from his Majesty's equity the value 
of the said three prizes, which is estimated at 50,000/. sterling, 
but which may be regulated by the best information that can by 
any means be obtained. 

I am, with the greatest respect, &c. 

B. Franklin, Minister Plen. 

The Chevalier now received a regular appointment from 
Mr. .Tefferson; who, it is believed, drew up a memorial 
which Jones carried with him. Among the papers fur- 
nished to the author by Mr. Jefferson is a memorandum, 
in the handwriting of Mr. Jefferson, of references to par- 
ticular passages of the works of Grotius and other eminent 
writers on the law of nations, intended for the Chevalier's 

* Lcs Anciens (says Valtel in his excellent treatise entitled " le droit des 
gens,) ne''se era joient tenus a rien envers les peuples qui ne leurs etoient 
imis par un trait^ d'amite enfin la voix de la nature ?e fit entendre aux peu- 
ples civ^ilis^s ; ils reconnurent que tous les hommes etoient freres." An in- 
fustice of the same kind done a century or two since by some English in 
the East Indies, Grotius tells us, " ne manquoit pas de partisans, qui soute- 
moient que par ie anciennes loix d'Angleterre on ne punissoit point en ce 
Royaume les outrages commis contre, les etrangers quand il n'y avoit point 
d' Alliance, contracted avec eux." But this principle he condemns in thp 
,strongest terms. Hist, des troubles des Pays bas, livre XVI. 



it) I 

use, when he should arrive at Copenhagen. This commife- 
sion ran thus ; 

To John Paul Jones, Esq., Commodore in the service of the 
United States of America. 
The United States of America in Congress assembled, 
having thought proper by their resolve of the 25th of October 
1787, to authorize and instruct me finally to settle and conclude 
all demands of the United States, against His Majesty the King 
of Denmark, on account of the prizes delivered to Great Britain 
during the late war ; — and to despatch yourself, or any other 
agent, to the Court of Denmark, with such powers, and instruc- 
tions relative thereto, as I might think proper, provided the ulti- 
mate conclusion of the business be not made by the said agent, 
without my previous approbation, I hereby authorize you to pro- 
ceed to the Court of Denmark, for the purpose of making the 
necessary representations on the subject, and for conferring 
thereon with such persons, as shall be appointed on that behalf 
by the said Court, and for agreeing provisionally on the arrange- 
ment to be taken, transmitting the same to me at Paris, for final 
approbation. 

Given under my hand and seal at Paris, this 24th day of Janu- 
ary in the year of our Lord 1788, and of the independence of 
the United States of America, the twelfth. 

Th. Jefferson, 

The Chevalier proceeded on his mission. His health, it 
seems, had suffered on the way to his destination, probably 
from the severity of the weather. From the capital of Den- 
mark, where he was treated with the most distinguished 
marks of regard, he wrote to Mr. Jefferson as follows : 

Copenhagen, March llth, 1788. 

His Excellency Thomas Jefferson, Esq. 
Sir, 

I have been so much indisposed since my arrival here, the 
4th, from the fatigue and excessive cold I suffered on the road, 
that I have been obliged to confine myself almost constantly to 
my chamber. 1 have kept my bed for several days ; but I now 
feel myself better, and hope the danger is over. On my arri- 
val, 1 paid my respects to the minister of France ; he received 
me with great kindness. We went five days ago to the minister 
of foreign affairs, I was much flattered with my reception, and 
our conversation was long and very particular respecting Ame- 
rica and the new constitution, of which 1 presented a copy ; he 
observed, that it had struck him as a very dangerous power to 
make the President commander in chief ; in other respects, it 
appeared to please him much, as leading to a near and sure 



292 

treaty of commerce between America and Denmark ; it waa a 
day of public business, and I could not do more than present 
your letter. I shall follow the business closely. In a few days, 
when I am re-established in health, I am to be presented to the 
whole court, and to sup with the King. I shall after that be 
presented to all the corps diplomatic, and other persons of dis- 
tinction here ; I am infinitely indebted to the attentions I recei- 
ved from the minister of France. 1 made the inquiry you de- 
sired in Holland, and should then have written to you in conse- 
quence, had I not been assured by authority (M. Van Staphorst,) 
that I could not doubt, that letters had been sent you on the sub- 
ject, that could not fail of giving you satisfaction. Mr. Van 
Staphorst was very obliging. 

At Hamburg I ordered the smoked beef you desired to be 
sent to you, to the care of the American agent at Havre de 
Grace : you have nothing to do but receive it, paying what 
little charges may be on it. 

My ill health and fatigue on the road, hindered me from pre- 
paring the extract of the engagement. When you see Mr. Lit- 
tle Page, I pray you to present my kind compliments. It is 
said here, that the Empress confides the command of her fleet, 
that will pass the Sound, to Admiral Greg ; and that he means 
to call at an English port to take provisions, &c. The Ham- 
burg papers, I am told, have announced the death of Dr. Frank- 
lin ; I shall be extremely concerned if the account proves true — 
God forbid ! The departure of the post obhges me to con- 
clude. I am, with a deep sense of your kind attachment, 

Sir, yours, &c. 

On the 1 8th of the same month, he again wrote to the 
American minister at Paris : 

Copenhagen, March IBth, 1788. 

His Excellency Thomas Jefferson, Esq. 
Sir, 

Yesterday His Excellency the Baron de la Houzfi, Minister 
Plenipotentiary of France at this court, did me the honor to 
present me publicly to His Majesty, the royal family, and 
chief personages at the royal palace here. I had a very po- 
lite and distinguished reception. The Q,ueen Dowager conver- 
sed with me for some time, and said the most civil things. Her 
Majesty has a dignity of person and deportment which becomes 
her well, and which she has the secret to reconcile with great 
affability and ease. The Princess Royal is a charming person, 
and the graces are so much her own, that it is impossible to see 
and converse with her. without paying to her that homage 



293 

wliicli artless beauty and good nature will ever command. AU 
the royal family spoke to me except the King, who speaks to 
no person when presented. His Majesty saluted me with great 
complaisance at tirst, and as often afterward as we met in the 
course of the evening. The Prince Royal is greatly beloved, 
and extremely affable : he asked me a number of pertinent 
questions respecting America. I had the honor to be invited to 
sup with His Majesty and the royal family. The company at 
table consisting of seventy ladies and gentlemen, including the 
royal family, the ministers of state, foreign ambassadors, &c. 
was very brilliant. The death of Dr. Franklin seems to be 
generally beUeved. Every person I have spoken with at court, 
laments the event, as a misfortune to human nature. I have bad 
a second conference with the minister of foreign aifairs^ but 
nothing is yet done ; I will press him to conclude. I am so con- 
tinually feasted, and have so many visits to pay and receive, that 
I have scarcely a moment to call my own ; and the departure 
of the post does not now afiford me the time necessary to com- 
pare the whole of my last. I have received no letter whatever 
since I came here. 

1 am, with great esteem and respect, Sir, yours, &c, 

Copenhagen, March 20th, ITSff. 
His Excellency Thomas Jefferson, Esq. 

Sir, 
I embrace the occasion of a young gentleman just arrived 
here express from St. Petersburg, and who sets out immediately 
express for Paris, to transmit you the foregoing copy of my last 
of the 18th. I have written to Norway, and expect a satisfac- 
tory answer. The minister of France is surprised to have had 
no object from Versailles respecting me. I pray you, and so 
does he, to push that point immediately. The minister of 
foreign affairs will receive me on Saturday. Please to present 
my kind compliments to Mr. Little Page. If there is any thing 
new from that quarter, you will no doubt communicate it. 

I am, sincerely, yours, &c. 

Copenhagen, March 25th, 178C. 
His Excellency Thomas Jefferson, Esq. 

Sir, 
I propose to send the present, under cover, to Messieurs Ni- 
cholas and Jacob Van Staphorst of Amsterdam ; presuming you 
may be there by the time they will receive it. If you are not 
arrived, or fully expected to arrive there in a day or two, the}' 
will be requested to forward you my letter. My mission here 
is not yet at an end, but the minister has promised to determine 



'' 294 

300U, and I liare wrote to claim that promise. Beibre you caa 
receive this. Monsieur de Semolin will have informed you, that 
your proposal to him, and his application on that idea, have 
been well received. The matter is communicated to me here, 
in the most flattering expressions, by a letter I have received 
from His Excellency the Baron de Krudener. There seems, 
however, to remain some difficulty respecting the letter of Mon- 
sieur de Semolin's proposal, though it is accepted, in substance, 
with an appearance of great satisfaction. I find myself under 
the necessity of setting out for St. Petersburg through Sweden, 
in a few days, instead of returning first, as was my wish and 
intention, to Paris. 1 hope in the mean time to receive a satis- 
factory answer, which I shall duly communicate to you. Your 
future letters for me, you will please to send under cover, to 
the minister of France at Petersburg, or rather deliver them 
to Monsieur de Semolin, to whom I tender my sincere and re- 
spectful thanks for his good offices, which 1 shall ever remem- 
ber with pleasure and gratitude, and which I shall always be 
ambitious to merit. I esteem myself also much indebted to 
Mr. Little Page, and hope I may one day convince him how 
sensible I am of his friendly behavior. I say nothing at present 
of your attachment, but my feelings do you justice. 

I am, with unbounded esteem and sincere regard, &c. 

Jones did not remain long at Copenhagen, but whilst 
there he pressed the business entrusted to him with his usual 
ardor. The Danish Court, either from a fear of offending 
Great Britain, or a desire to procrastinate, pleaded a want 
of full powers in the ChevaUer to treat, and transferred the 
negotiation to Paris, as will be seen in the subjoined corres- 
pondence with Count Bernstorff. Jones was impatient to 
go to Russia, whose sovereign, the celebrated Catharine 
II., had invited him thither by the most flattering promises 
of patronage. It was Mr. Jefferson who originally pro- 
jected for the Chevalier this adventure, which so admirably 
accorded with his chivalric disposition. 

Copenhagen, March ^4th, 1788. 
His Excellency M. le Comte de Bernstorff, Knight of ^ 
the order of the Elephant, Secretary of State for Fo- > 
reign Affiurs, &c., Copenhagen. ) 

Sir, 

From the act of Congress, (the act by which I am honored 

with a gold medal,) I had the honor to shew your Excellency 

the 21st of this month, as well as from the conversation that 

followed, vau must be convinced that circumstances do not per- 



2dif 

uiit me to remain here ; but that I am under a necessity, either 
to return to France, or proceed to Russia. As the minister of 
the United States, at Paris, gave me the perusal of the packet 
he wrote by me, and which I had the honor to present to you 
on my arrival here, it is needless to go into any detail on the 
object of my mission to this court, which Mr. Jefferson has 
particularly explained. The promise you have given me of a 
prompt and explicit decision from this court, on the act of Con- 
gress of the 2oth of October last, inspires me with full confi- 
dence. I have been very particular in communicating to the 
United States, all the polite attentions with which I have been 
honored at this court ; and they will learn with great pleasure 
the kind reception I had from you. 1 felicitate myself on being 
the instrument to settle the delicate national business in ques- 
tion, with a minister who conciliates the views of the wise states- 
man, with the noble sentiments and cultivated mind of the true 
philosopher and man of letters. 

1 have the honor to be, with great respect, yours, &c. 

Copenhagen, March 30th, 1788. 

His Excellency M. le Comte de Bernstorff. 
Sir, 

Your silence on the subject of my mission from the United 
States to this court, leaves me in the most painful suspense ; 
the more so as I have made your Excellency acquainted with 
the promise I am under, to proceed as soon as possible to St. 
Petersburg. This being the ninth year since the three prizes 
reclaimed by the United States, were seized upon in the port 
of Bergen, in Norway, it is to be presumed, that this court has 
long since, taken an ultimate resolution respecting the compen- 
sation demanded by Congress. Though I am extremely sensi- 
ble of the favorable reception with which 1 have been distin- 
guished at this court, and am particularly flattered by the polite 
attentions with which you have honored me at every confe- 
rence, yet I have remarked, with great concern, that you have 
never led the conversation to the object of my mission here. 
A man of your liberal sentiments will not, therefore, be surpri- 
sed or offended at my plain dealing, when I repeat that 1 impa- 
tiently expect a prompt and categorical answer, in writing, from 
this court, to the act of Congress of the 25th of October last. 
Both my duty and the circumstances of my situation, constrain 
me to make this demand, in the name of my sovereign the Uni- 
ted States of America ; but I beseech you to believe, that though 
I am extremely tenacious of the honor of the American flag, 
yet ray personal interest in the decision I now ask, would never 
have induced me to present myself to this court. You are ton 



just, Sir, to delay my business here ; which would put me uii- 
fier the necessitv to break the promise I have made to Her 
Imperial Majesty, conformable to your advice. 

I have the honor to be, with great respect, &c. 

Copenhagen^ April 4th, 1788. 
The Chevalier Paul Jones, Commander in Chief of ) 

the squadron of the United States of America. ^ 
Sir, 

You have requested of me an answer to the letter you did 
me the honor to remit to me from Mr. Jefferson, minister pleni- 
potentiary of the United States of America, near His Most 
Christian Majesiy. I do it with so much more pleasure, as you 
have inspired me with as much interest as confidence, and this 
occasion appears to me favorable to make known the sentiments 
of the King mv master, on the objects to which we attach so 
much importance. Nothing can be further from the plans and 
the wishes of His Majesty, than to let fall a negotiati^^n, which 
has only been suspended in consequence of circumstances ari- 
sing from the necessity of maturing a new situation, so as to 
enlighten himself on their reciprocal interests, and to avoid the 
inconvenience of a precipitate and imperfect arrangement. I 
am authorized. Sir, to give you, and through you to Mr. Jeffer- 
son, the word of the King, that His Majesty will renew the ne- 
gotiation for a treaty of amity and commerce in the forms al- 
ready agreed upon, at the instant that the new constitution (this 
admirable plan, so worthy of the wisdom of the most enhght- 
ened men) will have been adopted by the States, to which 
nothing more was wanted to assure to itself a perfect considera- 
tion. If it has not been possible, Sir, to discuss definitively 
with you, neither the principal object nor its accessaries, the 
idea of eluding the question, or of retarding the decision, had 
not the least part in it. I have already had the honor to ex- 
press to you, in our conversations, that your want of plenipo- 
tentiary powers from Congress, was a natural and invincible 
obstacle. It would be, likewise, contrary to the established 
custom, to change the seat of negotiation, which has not been 
broken off, but only suspended, thereby to transfer it from Paris 
to Copenhagen. 

I have oaly one more favor to ask of you, Sir, that you would 
be the interpreter of our sentiments in regard to the United 
States. It would be a source of gratification to me to think that 
what I have said to you on this subject, carries with it that con- 
viction of the truth which it merits. We desire to form with 
them coniexions solid, useful, and essential ; we wish to esta- 
blish there on bases natural and immovable. The momentary 



297 ■ *: - 

clouds — the incertitudes which the misfortunes ot" the time's 
brought with them, exist no longer. We should no longer recol- 
lect it, but to feel in a more lively manner, the happiness of a 
more fortunate period ; and show ourselves more eager to 
prove the dispositions most proper to effect a union, and to pro- 
cure reciprocally the advantages which a sincere alliance can 
afford, and of which the two countries are susceptible. These 
are the sentiments which I can promise you. Sir, on our part, 
and we flatter ourselves to find them likewise in America ; no- 
thing then can retard the conclusion of an arrangement, which 
I am happy to see so far advanced. 

Permit me to repeat to you. Sir, again, the assurances of the 
perfect and distinguished consideration with which I have the 
honor to be, &c. Bernstorff. 

Copenhagen^ April bth, 1788. 

His Excellency M. le Comte de Bernstorff, Sic. 
Sir, 

I pray your Excellency to inform me when I can have the 
honor to wait on you, to receive the letter you have been kind 
enough to promise to write me in answer to the Act of Con- 
gress of the 25th of October last. As you have told me that 
my want of plenipotentiary powers to terminate, ultimately, the 
business now on the carpet between this Court and the United 
States has determined you to authorize the Baron de Blome 
to negotiate and settle the same with Mr. Jefferson at Paris, 
and to conclude at the same time an advantageous treaty of 
commerce between Denmark and the United States ; my busi- 
ness here will of course be at an end when I shall have receiv- 
ed your letter, and paid you my thanks in person for the very 
polite attentions with which you have honored me. 

I am, with great respect, &:c. 

Copenhagen, April 2>th, 1788, 

His Excellency Thomas Jefferson, Esq. 
Sir, 

By my letters to the Count de Bernstorff, and his Excellency's 
answer, you see that my business here is at an end. If I have 
not finally concluded the object of my mission, it is neither your 
fault nor mine : the powers I received are found insufficient, 
and you could not act otherwise than was prescribed in your 
instructions. Thus it frequently happens, that good opportuni- 
ties are lost when the supreme power does not place a suffi- 
cient confidence in the distant operations of public officers, 
whether civil or military. I have, however, the melancholy 
satisfaction to reflect, that I have been received and treated here 
with a distinction far above the pretensions of mv pviblic mis- 



29 S 

si.bn ; and I felicitate myself sincerely, on being, at my own ex- 
pense, (and even at the peril of my life, for my sufferings, from 
the inclemency of the weather, and my want of proper means 
to guard against it on the journey, were inexpressible ; and I be- 
lieve, from what I yet feel, will continue to affect my constitution) 
the instrument to renew the negotiation between this country and 
the United States : the more so, as the honor is now reserved 
for you to display your great abilities and integrity by the com- 
pletion and improvement of what Dr. Franklin had wisely be- 
gun. I have done then, what perhaps no other person would 
have undertaken under the same circumstances ; and while I 
have the consolation to hope that the United States will derive 
solid advantages from my journey and efforts here, I rest per- 
fectly satisfied, that the interests of the brave men I commanded 
will experience in you parental attention, and that the American 
flag can lose none of its lustre, but the contrary, while its honor 
is confided to you. America being a young nation with an in- 
creasing commerce, which will naturally produce a navy, I 
please myself with the hope, that in the treaty you are about to 
conclude with Denmark, you will find it easy and highly advan- 
tageous to include certain articles for admitting America into 
the armed neutrality. I persuade myself before-hand, that this 
would afford pleasure to the Empress of Russia, who is at the 
head of that noble and humane combination ; and as I shall now 
set out immediately for St. Petersburg, I will mention the idea 
to her Imperial Majesty, and let you know her answer. 

If Congress should think I deserve the promotion that was 
proposed when I was last in America, and should condescend to 
confer on me the grade of rear-admiral, from the day I took the 
Serapis, (23d of Sept. 1779) I am persuaded it would be very 
agreeable to the Empress, who now deigns to offer me an equal 
rank in her service, although I never yet had the honor to draw 
my sword in her cause, nor to do any other act that could di- 
rectly merit her imperial benevolence. While I express, in 
the warm effusion of a grateful heart, the deep sense I feel of 
my eternal obligation to you, as the author of the honorable 
prospect that is now before me, I must rely on your friendship 
to justify to the United States the important step I now take, 
conformable to your advice. You know I had no idea of this 
new fortune when I found that you had put it in train, before 
my last return to Paris from America. I have not forsaken a 
country, that has had many disinterested and difficult proofs of 
my steady affection ; and I can never renounce the glorious title 
of a citizen of the United States ! 

It is true I have not the express permission of the sove- 
reignty, to accept the offer of her Imperial Majesty : yet Anre- 



I'ica is indepeodent, is in perfect peace, has no public employ- 
ment for my military talents ; but why should I excuse a conduct 
which I should rather hope, would meet with general approba- 
tion ? In the latter part of the year 1782 Congress passed an act 
for my embarkation in the fleet of his most Christian Majesty ; 
and when, a few months ago, I left America to return to Europe^ 
1 was made the bearer of a letter to his most Christian Majesty, 
requesting me to be permitted to embark in the fleets of evolu- 
tion. Why did Congress pass those acts ? To facilitate my 
improvement in the art of conducting fleets and military ope- 
rations. I am then, conforming myself to the views of Con- 
gress ; but the roll allotted me, is infinitely more high and difli- 
cult than Congress intended. Instead of receiving lessons from 
able masters, in the theory of war, I am called to immediate 
practice ; where I must command in chief, conduct the most 
difficult operations, be my own preceptor, and instruct others. 
Congress will allow me some merit in daring to encounter such 
multiplied difficulties. The mark I mentioned of the approba- 
tion of that honorable body, would be extremely flattering to me 
in the career I am now to pursue, and would stimulate all my 
ambition to acquire the necessary talents, to merit that and even 
greater favors, at a future day. I pray you. Sir, to explain the 
circumstances of my situation, and be the interpreter of my 
sentiments to the United States in Congress. I ask for nothing ; 
and beg leave to be understood only as having hinted, what is 
natural to conceive, that the mark of approbation I mentioned, 
could not fail to be infinitely serviceable to my views and suc- 
cess in the country where I am going. 

The Prince Royal sent me a messenger, requesting me to 
come to his apartment. His Royal Highness said a great many 
civil things to me, told me the King thanked me for my attention 
and civil behaviour to the Danish flag, while I commanded in 
the European seas ; and that His Majesty wished for occasions 
to testify to me his personal esteem, &c. I was alone with the 
Prince half an hour. I am with perfect esteem, &c. 

In 1788 the Russians were at war with the Turks, and, 
wanting naval talent, sought and procured it, wherever.it 
was to be found. Among others, it is not surprising that 
Jones should have attracted the notice of so enlightened a, 
ruler as Catharine. He went to St. Petersburg; and no 
longer opposing the wishes of the Empress, attached himself 
to her service, under this single condition, "that he should 
never be condemned unheard." So expeditious was he in 
his movements, that we find him, in the month of June 1 788, 
writing a letter from an board a Russian man-of-war, on the 



300 

Liinan sea, to the iVIarquis de la Fayette. It contains an 
account of his passage through Sweden to St, Petersbui^, 
and of his reception by the Empress: 

On board the Imperial ship IVolodimer, at anchor in the 
Liman, before Oczacoff, June 15-26, 1788. 
Monsieur le Marquis de la Fayette, Major General el } 
Chevalier du plusieurs Ordres, a son Hotel a Paris. ^ 
My Dear General, and dear Friend, 

The kind letter you did me the honor to write me, the 20th 
of April, was dehvered to me at St. EUzabeth, on ray way here 
from St. Petersburg. It was very flattering for me to receive 
such a letter from a man whom 1 so much love and respect as I 
do, and have long done the Marquis de la Fayette. You will 
yourself do justice to my sensibility for all your good offices and 
good intentions, so I need only say, I shall always be ambitious to 
merit the flattering compliment with which you honor me by 
subscribing yourself my " sincere fi-iend." 

I must tell you that Mr. Elliot, (the same who filched Dr. 
Lee's papers at Berlin,) was furious when he found my business 
at Gopenhagen ; and that I was received with great distinction 
at court, and in all the best societies in Denmark. Every time I 
was invited to sup with the King, Elliot made an apology ; he 
shut himself up for more than a month, and then left town. This 
occasioned much laughter ; and as he had shunned society from 
the time of my arrival, people said he had gone oft" in a fright! 
I hope Mr. Jefierson is satisfied with the train in which I left 
the Danish business. It would have been impossible for me to 
have pushed it any farther, as I had not full powers to conclude 
it finally. 

I went through Sweden to St. Petersburg. The advanced 
season did not permit my return to Paris, the distance would 
have been too long through Germany, and Elliot had influenced 
the English to put difficulties in the way of my passage by the 
Baltic. I found the Gulf de Botenea barred with ice, and after 
making several fruitless attempts to cross it in a small open boat, 
^about 30 feet long,) I compelled the Swedish peasants to steer 
as I directed them, lor the Gulf of Finland ; after about four, or 
five hundred miles of navigation, I landed at Reval, and having 
paid the peasants to their satisfaction, I gave them a good pilot, 
with some provision, to reconduct them to their home. My 
voyage was looked upon as a kind of miracle, being what never 
had been attempted before, unless in large vessels. 

The Empress received me with a distinction the mo^t flatter- 
ing that perhaps any stranger can boast of. On entering into the 



i^ 



301 

Kussian service, her Majesty conferred on me immediately the 
grade of Rear- Admiral. I was detained against my will a fort- 
night, and continually feasted at court and in the first society. 
This was a cruel grief to the English, and I own that their vex- 
ation, which I believe was general in and about St. Petersburg, 
gave me no pain. 

I presented the Empress with a copy of the new American 
constitution. Her Majesty spoke to me often about the United 
States, and is persuaded that the American revolution cannot fail 
to bring about others, and to injluence every other government. I 
mentioned the armed neutrality, so honorably patronised by Her 
Majesty ; and I am persuaded that no difficulty will be made 
about admitting the United States into that illustrious association, 
so soon as America shall have built some ships of war. 1 spoke 
of it to the Danish minister of foreign affairs, who seemed pleased 
with the idea. 

The United States have some commerce with Russia, which 
perhaps we may be able to increase. I should think whale oil, 
dried fish, spermaceti and rice, may be articles to suit the Rus- 
sia market ; if the Mediterranean was not shut to the American 
flag, many articles might be supplied to the Russian fleet, now 
destined for the Archipelago. I certainly wish to be useful to a 
country I have so long served. 1 love the people and their 
cause, and shall always rejoice when I can be useful to promote 
their happiness. 

I am glad that the new constitution will be, as you tell me, 
adopted by more than nine states. I hope, however, they will 
alter some parts of it ; and particularly that they will divest the 
President of all military rank and command ; for though Gene- 
ral Washington might be safely trusted with such tempting power 
as the chief command of the fleet and army, yet, depend on it, 
in some other hands it could not fail to overset the liberties of 
America. The President should be only the first civil Magis- 
trate, let him command the military xaith the pen ; but deprive 
him of the power to draw his sword and lead them, under some 
plausible pretext, or under any circumstances whatever, to cut 
the throats of a part of his fellow-citizens, and to make him the 
tyrant of the rest. These are not my apprehensions alone, for 
1 have mentioned them to many men of sense and learning 
since I saw you, and I have found them all of the same sen- 
timent. 

What are you about my dear General ? Are you so absorbed 
in politics as to be insensible to glory ? That is impossible, quit 
then your divine Calypso, come here, and pay your court once 
more to Bellona, who, you are sure, will receive you as her fa- 
vorite. You would be charmed with the Prince de Potemkin, 



302 

He is a most amiable man, and none can be more noble- 
minded. 

For the Empress, fame has never yet done her justice. I am 
sure no stranger who has not known that illustrious character, 
ever conceived how much her Majesty is made to reign over a 
great empire, to make the people happy, and to attach grateful 
and susceptible minds. 

Is not the present a happy moment for France to declare for 
Russia ? Would it not be a means to retrieve her dignity, and to 
re-establish the affairs of Holland ? What would England 
find to oppose to such an alliance ? Denmark is with Russia, and 
Sweden ought surely to be with France. An alliance with Rus- 
sia might be very advantageous, and can never be dangerous to 
France. In these circumstances the Isles of Candia and Cyprus 
appear among the objects which ought to attract her attention. 
Perhaps they might be obtained and the affairs of Holland re-es- 
tablished without the expense of a war, for it is a question if 
England and Russia would venture to make opposition. One 
sure advantage would result to France, I mean the breaking of 
her destructive treaty of commerce with England. Since the 
lime of the assembly of notables, I have always thought that 
the ministry ought to have seen the expediency of a war with 
England ; to break the treaty of commerce, and prevent the 
ruin of French manufactories ; to obtain loans from Holland, 
and to render that Republic for ever dependant on French pro- 
tection ; and, above all, to unite the nation, and prevent the 
■ broils that have since ensued, by exciting a brave patriotic people 
to support their national dignity. 

My motives are pure, and 1 am influenced only by the affec- 
tion I feel for the two countries you love. Your known patriot- 
ism assures me that if you can make my ideas useful, you will 
not fail to do it. 

My kind respects await Madame La Marquisse, and I hope 
her interesting family is well. It would afford me great happi- 
ness to see or hear from you, and if you cannot favor us with a 
visit, I beg the favor of any news that may be interesting. 

J am my dear General, j^ours, &c. 

P. S. Mr. Little Page has arrived at the army of the Prince 
de Potemkin, and I expect to see him here in a {ew days. The 
Captain Pacha has been beaten last week. This is a good be- 
ginning, and I hope we shall soon have greater success. The 
Count de Dumas was in the affair. To speak in our republican 
way he is a gallant fellow, I marked him well. He has my 
esteem, and his fair mistress owes him twenty sweet kisses for 
his first effort. He keeps his picture always at his heart. 



303 

On board the Wolodimer, before Oczacqff^, ~ ugusi ^^^^ 

His Excellency Thomas Jefferson, Esq. 
Sir, 

Some of my friends in America did me the honor to ask for 
my bust ; I enclose the names of eight gentlemen, to each of 
vphom I promised to send one. You will oblige me much by 
desiring Mr. Houdan to have them prepared, and packed up two 
and two : and if Mr. Short, to whom I present my respects, 
will take the trouble to forward them by good opportunities, 
via Havre-de-Grace, writing at the same time, a few words to 
each of the gentlemen, I shall esteem it a particular favor. 

Before I left Copenhagen I wrote to Mr. Amoureux, mer- 
chant at L'Orient, to dispose of some articles of mine in his 
hands, and remit you the amount. I hope he has done it. and 
that his remittance may be sufficient to pay Mr. Houdan, and 
the expense of striking the medal with which J am honored by 
the United States. But lest this should not turn out as I expect, 
I have directed Dr. Bancroft to pay any draft of yours on him 
for my account, as far as four or five thousand livres. I shall 
want four gold medals as soon as the dies are finished. I must 
present one to the United States, another to the King of France, 
and I cannot do less than offer one to the Empress. As you 
will keep the dies for me, it is my intention to have some more 
gold medals struck ; therefore 1 beg you, in the mean time not 
to permit the striking of a single silver or copper medal. 

I pray you to present me in the most respectful terms to Mon- 
sieur de Simolin. However my situation in Russia may termi- 
nate, 1 shall ever esteem myself under great obhgation to him. 
I pray you to present my affectionate respects to the Count 
d'Estaing, and tell him I am infinitely flattered by the obliging 
things he has had the goodness to say of me in my absence. I 
admire him for his magnanimity, and it vexes me every time I 
reflect how little his bravery and patriotism have been rewarded 
by government. He is the only officer who served through the 
last war without promotion or honors. It is his honor, to be 
beloved by his nation and to have deserved it. 

I send enclosed an extract of my Journal on my expedition from 
France to Holland in the year 1779, for the information of the 
Academy of Inscriptions and Bellos-Lettres. I trust at the same 
time more to your judgment than to theirs. There is a medal- 
list who executed three medals for me in wax. One of them 
is the battle between the Bon homme Richard and the Serapis. 
The position of the two ships is not much amiss ; but the ac- 
cessory figures are much too near the principal objects ; and he 
has placed them to windward instead of being, as they really 
were, to leeward of the Bon homme Richard and Serapis. I do 



304 

not at this moment recollect the medallist's name ; but he lives 
on the 3d or 4th stage at a marble-cutter's, almost opposite, but 
a little higher than your former house, Cul-de-sac Rue Taite- 
bout, and may be easily found. It would be of use to see the 
medal he has made, although it is by no means to be copied. I 
owe him a small sum, perhaps 200 livres. I wish to know how 
much, that I may take an arrangement for paying. I have not 
comprehended in the extract of my journal the extreme difficul- 
ties I met with in Holland nor my departure from the Texel in 
the Alliance, when I was forced out by the Vice-Admiral Rhynst 
in the face of the enemy's fleet. The critical situation I was in 
in Holland needs no explanation, and I shall not say how much 
the honor of the American flag depended on my conduct, or how 
much it affected all the belligerent powers. I shall only say it was 
a principal cause of the resentment of England against Holland, 
and of the war that ensued. It is for you and the academy to 
determine, whether that part of my service ought to be the sub- 
ject of one side of the medal ? 

Before Oczacoff, Sept. 15-26, 1788. 

Mr. Littlepage has postponed his departure. I expected him 
to remain with me till the end of the campaign, but he now sets 
out so suddenly, that I cannot send by him the extract of my 
journal in 1779. I will send it in a week or two to my friend 
the Count de Segur at St, Petersburg, and he will forward it to 
you with his ministerial despatches. Your letters with which 
you honor me may also be forwarded to him. I persuade my- 
self that Count de Montmorin will do it with pleasure. I trou- 
ble you with two enclosed letters, and am with perfect esteem, &c. 

List of gentlemen to whom busts are to be sent. 

General St. Clair, and Mr. Ross, of Philadelphia. — Mr. 
.lohn Jay, General Irvine, Mr. Secretary Thompson, and 
Colonel Wadsworth, of New- York. — Mr. J. Madison, and 
Colonel Carrington, of Virginia. 

Admiral Paul Jones presents his respectful compliments to 
Mr. Short, and begs the favor of him to forward the eight busts 
mentioned in the above list by the most direct opportunities, 
from Havre de Grace to America. Mr. Jefferson is wrote to on 
this subject ; and Mr. Houdan, who prepares the busts, will also 
have them carefully packed up in four boxes. The Admiral 
prays Mr. Short to be so obliging as to write a line or two to 
each of the gentlemen for whom the busts are destined. 

Jones was now again in active employment, on the ele- 
ment most favorable to the display of his talents. That 
much reliance was placed on his skill and energy, may be 
inferred from the annexed note of the Prince of Nassau : 



30b 

To the VicE-AoMiRAr.. 

May'dOth 1788. 
I send you, my dear General, the two answers of M. de 
Suvorow, which he has transmitted unsealed. I beg you to in- 
form me what are you intentions, as I have decided, since I 
have the liberty, to march only when you can protect me. 

Prince Nassau-Siegen. 

From his flag ship, tlie Wolodimer, the Vice Amiral wrote 
to that Prince. His letter shews that some diiference of 
opinion existed between them : 

On board the frigate Wolodimer, June 1st, 1788, opposite } 
the first village to the West of the River Bog. ^ 

The Vice Admiral to the Prince Nassau-Siegen. 
My Prince, 

No person can desire more than myself to make a happy and 
at the same glorious campaign, for the arms of her Imperial 
Majesty. If you can shew me a more advantageous position 
than the one I already have, I will change my plan with pleasure 
to adopt yours. If you are of opinion that my duty requires 
me to attack the Turkish fleet, under existing circumstances, I 
ask you if 1 ought not to wait until I can conquer it. Where is 
the man who will justify me, if following my own will, and with- 
out any necessity, knowing nothing certain of the position of the 
army of His Highness the Marshal Prince Potemkin, I should 
expose the squadron under my command to be burnt or taken. 
Do you believe the enemy will dare make a descent on this side 
of Kimbourn, and thus place himself between two fires ? The 
experience of the last year proves that nothing is risked on the 
other side, and that the garrison is strong enough and the gene- 
rals able enough, to repel an attack of ten thousand men. But 
if the squadron %vhich I have the honor to command, should be 
destroyed, it is not necessary for me to inform you, that the Bog, 
the Cherson, &c. &c. would be open to the ravages of the enemy. 
I would desire from my heart, that Your Highness would place 
one or two batteries under the walls of Kimbourn, to reinforce 
the place ; but you must feel that it is impossible for me to es- 
cort you even\inder the guns of Kimbourn, without having first 
conquered the Turkish fleet. My intention is to protect Kim- 
bourn, and I believe I do so at this moment. If I advance i 
shall find myself in a position much less favorable, without any 
perceptible advantage. The council of war of the squadron and 
of the flotilla, which I held the 4th of June, very inconsiderately 
determined to abandon the only good position in the Limaa 
fwithout knowing the intentions of His Highness the Princt^ 



30G 

Marshal) and to advance three versts to occupy another inlinitel v 
more exposed and less strong. It was compromitting our meaner 
for the remainder of the war, without placing Kimbourn the 
least more in safety — in fact all was to the contrary. We have 
a stronger force in our barges than" the Turks, in consequence 
we can always go to the assistance of Kimbourn, even against 
the wind. 

I have the honor to be, with the most distinguishedconsidera- 
tion and attachment, 

-My Prince, &c. 

Prince Potemkin, if the following letter may be consi- 
dered as proof, highly approved of the behaviour of Jones, 
and professed to be his friend : 

Head quarters, on the Bog, near Nova Grigorersky, 
June mil, 1 788. 
To the Vice Admiral. 
The part you have taken, in concert with the Prince of 
Nassau in uniting your forces with his, and acting thus against 
the enemy, cannot. Sir, but give me most particular pleasure. 
This junction is as necessary fis useful for the service of Her 
Imperial Majesty and particularly at this time. I recommend it 
to you therefore. Sir, in the strongest manner possible, in assur- 
ing you that on every occasion, it will do me the greatest plea- 
sure to appreciate to the Empress the services you may render 
the country. I would desire you could defer your operations, 
until I may have approached nearer to you, excepting in case 
the enemy should give you a good opportunity to offer battle, or 
that the safety of Kimbourn should require it. 

T have the honor to be with perfect consideration, 
Sir, your most obedient servant. 

Prince Potemkin-Tauricien. 

Although there was not, in the whole fleet on the Liman. 
«ron the Black Sea, an ofliccr so well qualified to direct the 
liiaval operations against the Turks as Jones, yet, situated 
as he was, among rival commanders, he found it indispen- 
sable to defer his judgment to that of others. He appeared 
^o he disposed to court the favor of Prince Potemkin. 

On the 8th of June the Prince Potemkin had also writ- 
ten to the Vice- Admiral a letter of thanks in the following 
terms : 

To the Vice-Admiral. 

June 8</i, 1788. 
The ieal and intrepidity manifested by your Excellency in 



30x 

the aflair against the Turks, on the 7th of this mouth, in aiding 
the Prince of Nassau, merit a just distinction,* and I return 
you my thanks. I am persuaded that such undertakings will 
contribute much to the honor and glory of the Russian arms. 

Prince PoTtfMKiN-TAURiciEN.. 

The Vice- Admiral replied to the Prince on the 10th 
iindllth: 

On board the Wolodimer, June lOth, 1788,. 

The Prince Marshal Potemkin-Tauricien. 
My Lord, 

It is with the highest satisfaction that I find your Highness has 
been pleased with my conduct, and that by your letter which I 
have just received, dated the 8th instant, you have approved 
of the arrangements made by the Prince of Nassau and myself, 
to combine the forces which you have contuded to us, to act in 
concert. For my own part, as it is my glory to serve under 
y OUT orders, I will sacrifice my own opinion, in evej-y instance 
where the interests of Russia may render it necessary, and I shall 
esteem myself most happy in doing all that honor may require, 
to prove how sensible and how flattered I am at the goodness 
and kindness of the Empress, and how ambitious I am to merit 
the friendship of Your Highness, in contributing all in my powei' 
to advance the great views you entertain for the good of the 
country. I have the honor to be, &,c. 

Wolodimer, off Oczakoff", June llth, 1 788. 
The Prince Marshal Potemkiw. 

My Lord, 
I am highly flattered by the letter which Your Highness done 
me the honor to write to me the 8th of this month, to inform 
me that you were satisfied with my conduct in the affair of the 
7th inst. It is a new proof of your great and generous soul. 1 
can assure you that I did not enter it to increase my own per- 
sonal interests, but solely for the benefit of the Russian arms, 
as I saw the first division of the flotilla of Her Imperial Ma^ 
jesty in disorder, and in a most critical situation. 

I have the honor to be, &c. 

On the 20th of June, 1788, in a letter to Prince Potenn- 
kin, the Vice- Admiral adverts to an affair between the Rus- 
sians and the Turks, in which he bore a pdrt, and for which 
he received a second time, the thanks of the Prince : 

* For this affair I re.ceived from His Hishness the order of St. Ann^. 



li'oloiUmer, off Oczakqf, June 20th, 1 788, 

His Highness the Prince Marshal. 
My Lord, 

1 could not have been more flatttered than by the letter 
which it has pleased Your Highness to write to me the 19th 
inst., to mark your satisfaction for the victory gained over the 
enemy, and to do me the particular honor of cffering me your 
thanks. This is a recompense grateful to a heart entirely devo- 
ted to you, and nothing can give me more pleasure than to find 
new opportunities to prove my devotion to the interests of 
Russia. 

My intention was to have attacked the Turkish fleet at the 
same instant I perceived the action commence between the fleet 
of Sevastopole and that of the Turks, outside of Kimbourn. 
1 would have done it also, if Kimbotirn had been attacked, and 
our position and our circumstances rendered it indispensable 
that we should remain firm in case of an attack. We were to 
conquer or to die, and my resolution was taken. But it is fortu- 
nate for us that we did not advance, for it was the intention of 
the Turks to attack and board us, and if we had been only- 
three versts farther, the attempt would have been made on the 
]6th, (before the vessel of the Captain Pacha run aground, in 
advancing before the wind with all his forces to attack us,) God 
only knows what would have been the result. The Turks had 
a very large force, and we have been informed by our prisoners 
that they were resolved to destroy us, even by burning them- 
selves, (in setting fire to their own vessels, after having grap- 
pled with ours.)* It is certain we should have lost considera- 
bly, and it is at least to be presumed that our vessels would 
have been rendered unfit for service, so that, I repeat, Provi- 
dence has highly favored ns. 

Your Highness can now look upon the capture of Oczakoff, 
as certain as the most superior means and arrangements can 
render military operations. We learn by our prisoners that 
there are eight thousand troops in that place, who are but badly 
disciplined. There remains only with Hassan Pacha, four 
vessels of his fleet, to wit : One small frigate, one schooner, 
one sloop of war, and one chebec aground, but the flotilla is 
still with him. I would not have been surprised to have been 
attacked in the night ; they are gi'eatly enraged, and in conse- 

* Before their depf rture from Constantinople, they swore by the beard 
of the Sultan to execute this horrible plan ; and if Providence had not 
caused its failure from two circumstances which no man could foresee, 
Cherson, being without a garrison, would have fallen into their power 
the next day, with all the prnviojons and military storof. ns well for !he ar 
inv rrs f.ir tlin navv. 



S0\) 

quence will commit some desperate acts. Each day some of 
their men are hung up to the yard arm. 

I have the honor to be, with the most perfect attachment, kc 

Being before Oczakoflf, on the 29th of August, 1788, he 
wrote to Mr. Jefferson. In one part of his letter he speaks 
doubtingly of his situation : 

On board the Wolodtmer, before Oczakqff", Aug. 29-9 Sept. 1788. 

His Excellency Thomas Jefferson, Esq. 
Dear Sir, 

Since I wrote you last from Copenhagen, the 8th of April, I 
have been very much hurried ; but my greatest difficulty has 
not been want of time, but want of a private opportunity to write 
to you. Mr. Littlepage is now on the point of leaving the army 
of the Prince Marechal de Potemkin, and talks of being at 
Paris in the month of October ; I avail myself, therefore, of 
the opportunity he offers, to send you enclosed a copy of my 
last letter from Copenhagen, with a copy of the official letter I 
received from the Count de Bernstorff, and a copy of the letter 
I have just received, on the subject of my public business there, 
from Monsieur Framery, Secretary to the Legation of France 
at the Court of Denmark, informing me he had received and 
forwarded to you the answer I expected from the Consul ol 
France, at Bergen in Norway. This last must rrecessarily make 
you acquainted with all you wanted to know respecting our 
claim on the Court of Denmark. 

The within letter to the Marquis de la Fayette, was intended 
for you as well as him, and I send you the copy because I am 
not sure if he received the original. — The American constitu- 
tion, I suppose is adopted ; but I am still afraid of the danger 
that may result from entrusting the President with such tempt- 
ing power as military rank and command must give him ! I can 
in no situation, however remote I am, be easy, while the liber- 
ties of America seem to me to be in danger. 

I leave to Mr. Littlepage to inform you particularly of the 
military events that have taken place here, this campaign. I 
can take no delight in telling over tales of blood. God knows 
there has been too much of it spilt ! — Scenes of horror have 
been acted under my eyes in which, however, I have the hap- 
piness to say, I had no part. 

I pray you to inform me, if you possibly can, what is become 

of Mrs. T . 1 am astonished to have heard nothing from 

her since I left Paris. I had written to her frequently, before 
I left Copenhagen. — If you cannot hear of, and see her, yon 
Avill oblige me much bv writina; a note to Mo!«?ieur Dubois, 



Commissaire du Regiment des Guardes Francais, vis a vis kr 
Rue de Vivienne, Rue neuve des petits Champs, desiring to 
speak with him. He will wait on you immediately. Yoxi must 
know, that besides my own purse, which was very considerable, 
I was good-natured, or, if you please, foolish enough to borrow 
for her, four thousand four hundred livres. Now Mr. Dubois 
knows that transaction, and as she received the money entire 
from me for the reimbursement, I wish to know if she has ac- 
quitted the debt ? When that affair is cleared up, I shall be 
better able to judge of the rest. 

I am, with perfect esteem, dear Sir, &c. 

Copenhagen, May Sd, 1788. 

Gommodore Paul Jones, St. Petersburg. 
Dear Commodore, 

The packet which M. Dechezlaux, Consul of France at 
Berghen in Norway, as you informed me at your departure, was 
about to forward you to Copenhagen, arrived on the 26th ult. to 
my address, accompanied by a letter from this Consul requesting 
me to transmit it to you. On the 29th I had the pleasure to ex- 
pedite it, agreeably to your wishes, addressed to Mr. Jefferson, 
through the channel of the Department of Foreign Affairs, for 
greater safety. I have seized with eagerness this occasion, to 
offer my services to that minister, in every thing that could in- 
terest or please him in this country, without saying more, leav- 
ing the rest to your disposal. The advance which I made on 
account of the expenses of the packet which was very volumi- 
nous, amounting to 6rixd. 4m. 12s. or 30liv. 10s. Tour. I have 
requested of Mr. Jefferson to remit for my account to M. J. F. 
Frin, banker, rue de Carroussel, at Paris. 

It is to be believed you are yet at St. Petersburg. I will learn 
with increased gratification, your arrival in this capital, as reports 
are in circulation here that you have perished in a storm, in the 
Gulf of Finhmd, but as the relation of this pretended misfortune 
changes every day, I am still persuaded that it exists only in the 
mouths of evil disposed persons, who first forged and spread the 
account. My good wishes accompany you in every part of the 
world, animated by the remembnmce of the friendship you ex- 
pressed for me when at Copenhagen. The Baron de la Houze 
to whom I mentioned that I was about to write to you, has char- 
ged me renew to you the assurance of the sentiments of esteem 
and real attachment with which you have inspired him. He is 
so far from giving credence to the report whicli I have mention- 
ed, that he awaits by the arrival of every courier, the letter 
which you promised to write him. as soon as you had reached 
vour port of destination. 



311 

Afi'airs are here in nearly the same situation as you left theuf, 
■only that the prince Charles of Hesse Cassel, arrived in this 
capital a few davs since, on account of the voyage which the 
Prince Royal of Denmark is about to make this summer to Nor- 
way, where the prince Charles will precede him by a few weeks, 
in order to receive him ; the voyage is fixed for the 17th of the 
next month. Every thing appears very peaceable and tranquil 
in this country, ».ven to the armament of 12 ships of the line and 
8 frigates, which the King of Sweden has ordered to Carlscrone, 
since the Danish govv^rnment confines itself, at least for the 
present, to 4 ships of the line and 2 or 3 frigates ; but as we 
are not ignorant of the state of the finances of Gustavus HI., it 
is asked, what power it is that furnishes him the necessary means 
of fitting out a squadron of such considerable foiice ? If it is 
England, or rather the Porte ? what is the intention of this Mo- 
narch, as the armament is by far too large for a mere naval pa- 
rade, and then, too small for any enterprise whatever ? In fine, 
it is not known where his Swedish Majesty will procure, in a 
season already so far advanced, a sufficient number of sailors to 
man his ships. These are. Sir, the reflections which are made 
in Denmark, while you are gathering new laurels under the 
auspices of the immortal Catharine. I shall certainly not be 
the less happy to applaud your glorious successes ; and the satis- 
faction I shall feel in seeing them public will equal the sincere 
devotion and profound respect with which I have the honor 
to be, &c, 

Framery. 
Secretary of Legation of His Most Christian Majesty. 

P. S. The Count de Bernstorff informed the Baron de la 
Houze, in his last conference, that he was about to send pleni- 
potentiary powers to the Baron de Blome, Minister plenipoten- 
tiary to our Court, to treat definitively with Mr. Jefferson, on 
the affair which was in agitation during your residence in Co- 
penhagen. 

On the 1 8th of October, 1 788, from some cause or other, 
not fully explained, but in all probability from his having 
presumed to dispute the accuracy of the accounts which 
Prince Potemkin transmitted to the Empress, of the mili- 
tary and naval operations under his direction, the command 
of the Vice- Admiral was transferred from the Liman to the 
Northern Seas. The following extract from the preface of 
Eton's Survey of the Turkish Empire, may serve to explain 
the principal motive of this change, which, in effect wa? 



.31ii 

equivalent to a suspension from all present employment in 
the navy : — 

W. Eaton's Survey of the Turkish Empire. — 2nd Ed. London, 
1799. — Preface to the 1st. Edition. 
" It is a difficult thing, at all times to discover truth, amidst 
the misrepresentations of courts, of ministers, of commanders. 
Should any one write, for instance, the history of the last war 
between Russia and Turkey, he would take for his guide, in 
relating the first event, the siege of Oczakoff, the accounts pub- 
lished by the Court of St. Petersburg, and the reports of the com- 
manders. There he would find a brilliant victory gained by 
Prince Nassau over the Turkish fleet in the Liman ; but if he 
could get the report made by Paul Jones to the admiralty of 
Cherson, signed by all the commanders of the fleet, he would 
lind that no engagement took place (except a distant cannonade ;) 
that the Turkish ships ran aground by their ignorance and bad 
manoeuvres ; and that Nassau with his Jlotilla, instead of taking 
possession of them, set them on fire. This journal which I have 
x'ead, and taken an extract from, was forbidden by Prince Po- 
temkin to be sent to Petersburg, and the whole campaign, as it 
stands on record, is nearly a romance. The fortress might have 
been taken the 1st of July with more ease than on the 6th of 
December 1788, and the commander-in-chief knew it. I was 
at the opening of the trenches, and at the storming of the 
place, and therefore can speak of facts to which I was an eye- 
witness." 

It was on the 18th of October, 1788, that Prince Potem- 
kin communicated to Vice- Admiral Jones, an order to re- 
pair to St. Petersburg in these terms : 

October I8th, 1788. 
Order to the Vice-Admiral. 
According to the desire of Her Imperial Majesty, your place 
of service is fixed in the Northern seas ; and as this squadron, 
and the flotilla, are placed by me under the orders of the Vice- 
Admiral and the Chevalier de Nordivinoff", your Excellency will 
in consequence proceed on the said voyage ; principally, as the 
squadron in the Liman, on account of the season being so far 
advanced, cannot be united with that of Sevastopole. 

Prince Potemkin-Tauricien. 

The Prince, however, was generous. He possessed an 
elevated soul ; and, on the departure of the Vice-Admiral, 
jKive him the subjoined recommendatory (Certificate to the 
impress Catharine : 



dt the Camp before Oczakqff, Oct. 31-11 jWov. 1788.. 
From His Highness the Pmnce Marshal to Her Imperiai 
Highness of all the Russias. 

Madam, 
In placing before the august throne of your Imperial Majesty, 
his Excellency the Vice-Admiral Paul Jones, I take, with sub- 
mission, the liberty to certify the ardor and zeal which he has 
always shewn for the service of your Imperial Majesty ; en- 
deavoring to render himself worthy of the august favor of 
your Imperial Majesty. 

The most faithful subject of your Imperial Majesty, 

Prince Potemkin, Tavvritcheskoy. 

Arrived at St. Petersburg, the Vice-Admiral addressed a 
letter to Mr. Jefferson, in which, it is plainly to be per- 
ceived, that he began to cast about him for new enterprises ; 
but more particularly with a view to the promotion of thr 
interests of the United States : 

St. Petersburg, Jan. 15-26, 1789. 

His Excellency Thomas Jefferson, Esq. 
My Dear Sir, 

Having wrote you fully respecting the Denmark business by 
Mr. Littlepage, with the papers necessary to finish it, I now 
have the honor to transmit you the extract of my Journal that 
yo\x wish to communicate to the Academy of Inscriptions and 
Belles-Lettres on the subject of the medal with which I am ho- 
nored by Congress. — I have only at present to inform you 
that I returned here from the Black Sea a short time ago, by 
the special desire of Her Imperial Majestj' ; but I know not 
yet my future destination. — I congratulate you on the esta- 
blishment of the new American Constitution. Among other good 
effects, a marine force will naturally result from it. If there is 
still a disposition to send a force against the Algerines, would it 
not be a good thing to conclude a treaty with this country, and 
make the war a common cause in the Mediterranean, The 
Turks and Algerines are together, and acted in conjunction 
against us before Oczacoff. A treaty might now be concluded, 
permitting Her Imperial Majesty to enlist seamen in America, 
and assuring to America after the peace, a free navigation to 
and from the Black Sea. — If you approve of this idea in gene- 
ral, various other things will necessarily be engrafted in the 
treaty, and I flatter myself I may obtain the command of the 
force destined to act in conjunction with that of the United 
States. 

I beg to hear from you as soon as possible, and I hope to h<: 
R r 



•ill 

I'avored with your sentiments, as I have already had some con- 
versation with this government on the subject. — Please to men- 
tion the situation of your arrangement with the Court of Den- 
mark. 

Present my best respects to the Marquis and to Mr. Short. 
I congratulate you all on the happy acquisition of liberty in 
France. His present Majesty has established a more glorious 
title than any of his predecessors, and posterity will bless his 
memory. 

I avail myself of an express that is just setting out from the 
Office of foreign affairs, so that I have not time even to copy 
this. I am, dear Sir, yours, &lc. 

St. Petersburg, January 20th-3lst, 1789. 

His Excellency Thomas Jefferson, Esq. 
My Deau Sir, 

I had the honor to write you a line the 15th-26th from this 
place, where I am arrived a short time ago from the Black Sea. 
I send enclosed an extract of the journal of my campaign in 
1779, as you desired ; and I now enclose an extract of the letter 
I wrote you by Mr. Little Page. I have heard nothing from 
him since he left me. I know only that he arrived at War- 
saw, but am quite uncertain about his return, as he proposed, 
to Paris. I can only inform you that I returned here by the 
special desire of the Empress, but I know not as yet, how or 
where I am to be employed for the next campaign. I mentioned 
in my last, as my opinion, that if the new government of Ame- 
rica determines to chastise the Algerines, I think it now a favo- 
rable moment to conclude a treaty with Russia. The Turks 
and Algerines were combined against us on the Black Sea. The 
United States could grant leave for Russia to enlist American 
seamen ; and making a common cause with Russia in the Mediter- 
ranean, America might, at the peace, obtain a free navigation 
to and from the Black Sea. If such a treaty were to take 
place, 1 believe I could obtain the command of the combined 
force ; at least no objection would be made to it here. Such a 
connexion might lead to various mutual advantages in the com- 
merce between the two nations. I beg to hear from you and 
to know the situation of our claim on the court of Denmark, 
for the only objection made by the Count Bernsdorff is now re- 
moved, by the establishment of the new American constitution. 
I am, with perfect esteem and attachment, &c. 

The Vice-Admiral remained a considerable time at Pe- 
tersburg, enjoying the esteenn of the Empress, but obnox- 
ious to the calumnies of the English party at that court. 
The annexed documents shew that he had a fresh project in 



contemplation, and that he was, at least in some degreCj 
countenanced in it by the Russian ministry : 

Secret note addressed to the Minister at St. Petersburg, by the 
Vice-Admiral. 

June 6th, 1 789. 

The great object of a Russian fleet in the Mediterranean, is 
to endeavor to cut off the communication between Egypt and 
the coast of Syria with Constantinople, from whence they pro- 
cure their corn, rice, coffee, &c. This operation will obhge 
them to withdraw a very considerable part of their fleet from 
the Black Sea. To encompass this end, I ask a cctrte-hlanche, 
and only, exclusive of small boats, five large vessels, like the 
East-Indiamen which are purchased in London after they have 
made three voyages, and which carry from 40 to 50 guns. They 
are strong vessels and good sailers. They are sent from London 
to Naples under the English flag, under pretext of being enga- 
ged in mercantile enterprizes. No person can have any thing 
to say against it. The crews of these vessels being arrived in 
Italy, would engage in the service of Russia. For the rest we 
would easily find good sailors at Malta and at Naples. 

I would employ two small French vessels between Malta and 
Naples trading to Smyrna to procure continual news from Con- 
stantinople, and of the force and position of the Turkish fleet. 
There are some very important blows to be made, but in order 
to succeed we must not speak of this matter beforehand. 

We are informed that the want of provisions at Constantino- 
ple has occasioned a rebellion, discouraged the people, and cau- 
sed a great desertion of the troops. It is the policy of the Vizier 
to render himself popular by providing sufficiently for them. 

I have the honor to be, &:c. 

To the Minister of State at St. Petersburg. 

St. Petersburg, June 13ih-24th, 1789. 

The detachment of vessels of which your Excellency has 
spoken to me, cannot but be very advantageous to the opera- 
tions which I had projected : however, I regard the means 
mentioned in the private note which I addressed to you, as a 
thing most useful, and which will not cost so much in propor- 
tion. I would wish, since circumstances will permit of it, to 
unite the means, and then I think we will have reason to be con- 
tent with the advantages which will be the result. 

I mentioned to your Excellency that I am the only officer who 
has made the campaign of Liman without being promoted, but 
I beg you to believe that I did not enter into the service of Rus- 
sia to create difficulties, and since the Empress has granted me 



.310 

her esteem and conlidence, I desire nothing else, except occa 
sions to prove my attachment by new services. 

1 have the honor to be, &c. 

That Jones was hated and slandered by the British party 
upon his tirst arrival at St. Petersburg, and when he return- 
ed to that city from before Oczakoff, is confirmed, not only 
by his own letters to his friends, but by a passage in Tooke's 
Life of Catharine II. Tooke's work has long occupied a 
place in our libraries, both public and private ; and an ex- 
tract from it is inserted here for the purpose of demonstra- 
ting to the reader the little confidence that is to be placed 
in the narrative of his work, and upon what slender materi- 
als some authors venture to detail events. The Vice- Ad- 
miral was disliked by the British officers in the Russian ser- 
vice because they envied his glory, at that time reviled the 
American name and character, and because he stood in their 
^vay to preferment. Tooke, imbibing the prejudices of his 
countrymen, and intermingling with them a bitterness of spi- 
rit of his own, declares him to have been ^^ a pirate and rene- 
gado.'''' But in what instance did Jones fight or capture with- 
out a regular commission? In what respect was he "a pi- 
rate and renegado" more than the American people in gene- 
ral, who, before the revolutionary war, were all British sub- 
jects 1 Enjoying the friendship of Franklin, of Jefferson, 
of Adams, and of all the distinguished citizens of the Uni- 
ted States of his day, honored by the King of France with a 
sword and the order of military merit, by Congress with a 
gold medal, received by the court of Denmark with personal 
distinctions, and invested by the Empress of Russia with the 
command of a Vice- Admiral, and decorated for his brilliant 
achievements with the order of St. Anne, was it for Mr. 
Tooke to brand a man so respected and honored with the 
name of " pirate and renegado ?" Upon the evidence ad- 
duced in the present volume an impartial world will decide 
between the heroic Jones and his calumniators. 

From W. Tooke's life of Catharine II. of Russia, Vol. i*, 

p. 252, 1788. 
"Another naval armament was prepared, with no less indus- 
try, for the service of the Euxine ; but Russia, not being able 
to cope with her enemy there, in the number, or strength of line- 
of-battle ships which she could bring into action, intended to 
supply this defect by the construction of a numerous flotilla. 



.317 

composed of frigates, gallies, gun-boats, and various descriptions 
of light vessels, calculated to act near the shores, in a depth of 
water which would not admit the approach of capital ships. It 
was, however, principally intended for the security of Kinbourn, 
by rendering the entrance of the Dniepe inaccessible to the 
Turkish fleet. As these vessels were not, on this service, liable 
to be exposed to the dangers of the seas and storms, they were 
accordingly fortified with a tremendous artillery, composed of 
heavy battering cannon, and of large mortars ; and besides ex- 
cellently stored with able seamen, and veteran soldiers ; they 
were eminently fitted for the designed purpose. The prince of 
Nassau, who had been heard of in the late war, both in the 
French unfortunate attempt on the island of Jersey, and in the 
still more disastrous attack of the combined nations of France 
and Spain on the fortress of Gibraltar, and whose uncommon 
rage for adventure, and eagerness to signalize himself, have led 
him almost to every part of the world where any service was 
to be performed, or danger encountered, was appointed to the 
command of the naval armament on the Euxine." 

" P. 259. It is well known, that there is a want of native ofti- 
cers of sufficient ability and experience, to conduct the opera- 
tions of the Russian navy with judgment and effect. It was not 
perhaps in the nature of things that this deficiency could be 
fully supplied by foreigners. It was, however, the only 
resource ; and the conclusion of the American war afforded a 
considerable supply of young English officers, whose minds were 
too alert to live out of action, if it could any where be found. 
Few, if any of these, had risen to any higher rank in their own 
service than that of lieutenant, so that the command of single 
ships seemed the highest advancement to which they could yet 
be competent. They were, however, of the utmost importance 
to Russia in the present state of things ; and Great-Britain, not- 
withstanding the jealousies subsisting between the two courts, 
refrained from proceeding to the extremity of recalling them 
home. 

This known scarcity of commanders could not fail to attract 
the attention of foreign adventurers, who had acquired any expe- 
rience and reputation in maritime affairs. Of this number was 
the English pirate and renegado, Paul Jones, who had rendered 
himself so notorious in the American war, by the mischiefs 
which he did to the trade of his country, and whose desperate 
courage, which only served to render his atrociousness con- 
spicuous, would, in a good cause, have entitled him to honor. 

This man could not but experience the common fate incident 
to his character ; and, finding that he did not meet the considera- 
tion which he expected in America, he made a tender of his ser- 



318 

vices to the court of St. Petersburg, where he was gladly rc- 
' ceived, and immediately appointed to a high command in the 
grand fleet which was under equipment at Cronstadt. The 
British officers, full of those national and professional ideas of 
honor which they had imbibed in their own country and service, 
considered this appointment as the highest affront that could be 
offered to them, and a submission to it an act of such degrada- 
tion, that no time or circumstance could wipe away the dishonor. 
They accordingly went in a body, to the amount of near thirty, 
without a single dissentient lagging behind, or hesitating on the 
account of inconvenience or personal distress, to lay down their 
commissions ; declaring at the same time that it was impossible 
for them to serve under, or to act in any manner or capacity 
whatever, with a pirate or a renegade. 

Nothing could have been more vexatious, or more embarrass- 
ing to the Court of St. Petersburg, at the present critical period, 
than this spirited conduct of the officers. Punctihos.of honor 
operating in the face of command, was a thing unheard of in 
that service. No Russian, under the first rank or order, would 
dare to insinuate such an idea. As it was, it could not be con- 
sidered as less than a direct insult to the court, and any submis- 
sion to it as a grievous derogation from its dignity. It would, 
besides, establish a precedent, which might be troublesome or 
dangerous with respect to her own subjects. It was well for the 
offiicers that they were not the members of a small state, and 
that this did not happen in a season of peace, when their servi- 
ces might be dispensed with. The necessity of the time, how- 
ever, prevailed. The appointment of Paul Jones to a command 
in the Cronstadt fleet was recalled ; and that adventurer (whose 
character of an impetuous courage had made an impression on 
the court far beyond its real value) was ordered to the armament 
in the Euxine, as second to the Prince of Nassau. In the 
mean time, a report was raised of a scandalous adventure with 
a girl, which making a noise in the town, occasioned him to 
think it adviseable to quit the country entirely.* 

The story of the "scandalous adventure with a girl," al- 
luded to by Tooke, at first made an impression on the mind of 
Catharine unfavorable to the Admiral ; but, on investigation, 
it was discovered to have been a base invention of his ene- 

* Paul Jones afterward went to Paris, where he died in September, 
1792, and was attended to his grave by a deputation of the National Con- 
vention. He was brave at sea, though not by land, having refused to ac- 
cept a challenge more than once, and was handsomely caned upon the Ex- 
change at Philadelphia. Besides, he was extremely ignorant, and un- 
qualified to have the command of more than one ship. 



31'J 

mies. The following letter from the Count de Segur, which 
does equal credit to the head and the heart of that illustrious 
noblennan, is conclusive as to this particular : 

Copies of the letter from Count de Segur, Minister Plenipotentiary 
from France to St. Petersburg, to the Count D'Esterns, Minister 
Plenipotentiary of his Most Christian Majesty near his Majesty 
the King of Prussia, and the Chevalier Bourgoing, Minister 
Plenipotentiary from France to Hamburg. 

St. Petersburg, August 26th, 1789. 
Sir, 
Tl\e Vice- Admiral Paul Jones, who will have the honor to de- 
liver this letter, commanded during the last campaign, a Russian 
squadron stationed on the Liman. The Empress has decorated 
him on this occasion, with the order of St. Ann. He had a right 
by his actions to a promotion and to a recompense, but this cele- 
brated sailor knowing better how to conduct himself in the midst 
of his battles than in courts, has offended by his frankness, some 
of the most powerful people, and amongst others the Prince Po- 
temkin. His enemies and his rivals have profited by his mo- 
mentary disgrace to hasten his destruction. Calumny has served 
their purposes, they have given credit to reports absolutely 
false, they have accused him of violating a girl. The Empress 
being deceived has forbid him the court, and wished to bring 
him to trial. Every person has abandoned him, I alone have 
upheld and defended him. The country to which he belongs, 
the order of military merit which he bears, and which he has 
so nobly acquired, his brilliant reputation and above all, our long 
acquaintance have made it a law to me: my cares have not been 
in vain, I have caused his innocence to be acknowledged. He 
has repaired to court, and has kissed the hand of the Sovereign, 
but he will not remain in a country where he believes himself to 
have been treated with injustice. However he has not given in 
his resignation. The Empress still preserves for him his rank, 
his emoluments, and only grants him permission to absent him- 
self for a limited time. The true motive of his departure is 
founded on his own discontent. But he has made use of, as a 
pretext, important affairs which call him to France, to Denmark, 
and which may, perhaps, require his presence in America. I 
beg you. Sir, to render to this brave man, as interesting by the 
reverses of fortune which he has met with as by his past success, 
every service which may be in your power. It will lay me 
under a true obligation, and I shall share in a lively manner his 
gratitude. 

I have the honor to be, &c. 

Le Count Segur. 



The Vice- Admiral, it will have been observed, had hinri- 
self solicited leave of absence, retaining his rank, and its 
emoluments. His enemies seized the opportunity to circu- 
late a rumor that he was in disgrace. To counteract the 
effect of this report, his friend Count Segur wrote to 
Count Montmorin as follows : — 

St. Petersburg, July 2\st, 1789. 

The Count Montmorin. 
Monsieur, 

The enemies of the Vice-Admiral Paul Jones, having caused 
to be circulated reports entirely destitute of foundation concern- 
ing the voyage which this general officer is about to undertake, 
I would wish the enclosed article, the authenticity I guaranty, 
should be inserted in the Gazette of France, and in the other 
public papers, which are submitted to the inspection of your de- 
partment. This article will undeceive those who have believed 
the calumny, and will prove to the friends and to the compa- 
triots of the Vice-Admiral, that he has sustained the reputation 
acquired by his bravery and his talents during the last war ; 
that the Empress desires to retain him in her service, and that 
if he absents himself at this moment it is with his own free-will, 
and for particular reasons which cannot leave any stain on his 
honor. 

The glorious marks of the satisfaction and bounty of the King 
towards Mr. Paul Jones, his attachment to France, which he has 
served so usefully in the common cause, his rights as a subject 
and as an admiral of the United States, the protection of the minis- 
ters of the King, and my personal friendship for this distinguish- 
ed officer, with whom I made a campaign in America, are so 
many reasons which appear to me to justify the interest which I 
took in all that concerned him during his stay in Russia. 
, I have the honor to be, &:c. 

Count de Segur. 

Article to be inserted in the public prints, and particularly in 
the Gazette of France. 

St. Petersburg, July 21st, 1789. 
The Vice-Admiral Paul Jones being on the point of returning 
to France, where private affairs require his presence, had the 
honor to take leave of the Empress the 7th of this month, and 
to be admitted to kiss the hand of Her Imperial Majesty. This 
general officer, so celebrated by his brilliant actions during the 
course of the American war, was called in 1787 to the service 
of Her Imperial Majesty, who confided to him the command of 



0-21 

her vessels of war stationed on the Linian, during the campaign 
of 1788. As a mark of favor for liis conduct during this cam- 
paign, the Empress has decorated him with the insignia of the 
order of St. Ann, and her Imperial Majesty, satisfied with his 
services, only grants him permission to absent himself for a 
limited time, and still preserves for him his emoluments and his 
rank. 

Count de Segur. 

The slander was finally put to rest. Among other letters 
of congratulation, the Vice-Admiral received one from the 
Baron de la Houze, minister plenipotentiary of France at 
Copenhagen : 

The Vice-Admiral J. Paul Jones. 

Copenhagen, February 9th, 1790. 
Sir, 
It is but a few days since I received with the letter with which 
you have honored me of the 29th of December, the copies of 
that of the Count de Segur, which you have been pleased to 
communicate to me, and which were accompanied by the arti- 
cle inserted on your account in the Gazette of France, and 
which I had read. This article, which has been repeated in 
many foreign Gazettes, has entirely destroyed all the venomous 
effects which calumny had employed to tarnish the distinguished 
reputation which you have acquii-ed by your talents and your 
valor. In consequence, public opinion still continues to ren- 
der you justice, and the most noble revenge you can take on 
your enemies is to gather fresh laurels. The celebrated Athe- 
nian general Themistocles has said that he did not envy the si- 
tuation of one who was not envied. As to the affair, concern- 
ing which you speak to me, and in which you have been witness 
to my zeal, as well for your compatriots as for my own, it re- 
mains still at the same point where you left it on your departure 
for St. Petersburg, the 15th April, 1788. A note in answer 
which the Count de Bernstorff addressed to you on the 4th 
keeps always in view the affair which you negotiated with him 
but for the conclusion of which you are not clothed with the 
necessary plenipotentiary powers. You know, however, that 
according to the note of the Count de Bernstorff, Paris ought to 
have been the seat of the negotiation between the Baron de 
Blome, Envoy Extraordinary of His Danish Majesty, and Mr. 
Jefferson, Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of North 
America near the King. You inform me that Mr. Jefferson is 
at present in America, where he has been appointed Secretarv 



m 



322 

oi' State for tbreign affairs. No person then, can better instruct 
than him his successor to Paris, to take up the thread of this ne- 
gotiation with the Baron de Blome. I spoke, three da\s since, 
to the Count de Bernstorff, who perseveres according to what 
lie told me, in all that he mentioned to you in his note of the 4th 
«f April, 1788, but this minister observed to me that the circum- 
stances of the actual crisis of Europe did not permit him to fol- 
low at this time the negotiation, which it appeared to him best 
to keep back until the return of a calm. 

When I shall have the pleasure to see M. Broseronde, our 
Consul at Elsineur, I shall take care to renew to him the assu- 
rance of your remembrance, to which he will most certainly be 
sensible, as likewise is M. Framery, Secretary of my Legation, 
who begs you to accept his compliments and his thanks. 

You will part, in all probability, about the commencement of 
the fine season to return to Russia. I wish that your voyage 
may procure me, as you have given me reason to expect, satis- 
faction to express personally to you the distinguished sentiments 
of attachment and consideration with which I have the honor to 
be, Sir, Your obedient, &.c. 

Le Baron de la Houze. 

This letter of the Baron de la Houze looked forward to 
Jones's speedy return to the Russian service, and the sub- 
joined address to Prince Potemkin evinces the desire of 
Jones to do so. At the same time that Jones, with the 
frankness of a man of courage, apologizes to the Prince for 
what he supposed had offended him, he vindicates his own 
character with freedom and energy : 

Paris, July 24th, 1790. 

To His Highness the Prince Marshal. 
My Lord, 

I do not think it becomes me to let pass the occasion of the 
return of your aid-de-camp, to congratulate you on the brilliant 
success of your operations since I had the the honor to serve 
imder your orders ; and to express to you, in all the sincerity 
«f my heart, the regret I feel in not being fortunate enough to 
Contribute thereto. 

After the campaign of Liman, when I had leave, according 
to the special desire of Her Imperial Majesty, to return to the 
department of the northern seas, your Highness did me the 
ilivor to grant me a letter of recommendation to the Empress, 
and to tell me in these words, " Rely upon my attachment. I 
»m disposed to grant you the most solid proofs of my friendship, 
ibr the present and for the future." Do you recollect them ? 



' 3i3 

This discourse was too flattering for me to tbrget it, and I hope 
you will permit me to remind you of it. Circumstances, and 
the high rank of my enemies, have deprived me of the benefits 
which I had dared to hope from the esteem which you had ex- 
pressed for me, and which I had endeavored to merit by my 
services. You know the disagreeable situation in which I was 
placed, but if, as I dared to believe, I have preserved your 
good opinion, I may still hope to see it followed by advantages, 
which it will be my glory to owe to you. M. de Simolin caa 
testify to you that my attachment to Russia, and to the great 
Princess who is its Sovereign, has always been constant and du- 
rable. I attended to my duties, and not to my fortune. I have 
been wrong, and I avow it with a frankness which carries with 
it its own excuse. — 1. That I did not request of you a carte- 
blanche, and the absolute command of all the forces of the Li- 
man. — 2. To have written to your Highness under feelings 
highly excited, on the 14-25th October 1788. These are my 
faults. If my enemies have wished to impute others to me, I 
swear before God, that they are a calumny. It only rests with 
me, my lord, to unmask the villany of my enemies, by pub- 
lishing my journal of the operations of the campaign of Liman, 
with the proofs clear as the day, and which I have in my hands. 
It only rests with me to prove that I directed, under your or- 
ders, all the useful operations against the Captain Pacha ; that 
it was I who beat him on the 7th of June ; that it was I, and 
the brave men I commanded, who conquered him on the 17th of 
June, and who chased into the sands two of his largest galleys,^ 
before our flotilla was ready to fire a single shot, and during 
the time a vei'y considerable part of the force of the enemy 
remained at anchor immediately in the rear of my squadron ; 
that it was I who gave to General Suwarrow, (he had the no- 
bleness to declare it at court before me, to the most respecta- 
ble witnesses) the first project to establish the battery and 
breastworks on the Isthmus of Kinbourn, and which was of 
such great utility on the night of the 17-18th June : that it was 
I, in person, who towed, with my sloops and other vessels, the 
batteries which were the nearest to the place the 1st July, and 
who took the Turkish galleys by boarding, very much in advance 
of our line, whilst some gentlemen who have been too highly 
rewarded in consequence of it, were content to remain in the 
rear of the stragglers of our line, if I may be allowed to use the 
expression, sheltered from danger. You have seen yourself, 
my lord, that I never valued my person, on any occasion, where 
I had the good fortune to act under your eye. The whole of 
Europe acknowledges my veracity, and grants me some military 
falents, which it would give me pleasure to employ in the ser- 



324 

vice of Russia, under your orders. The time will arrive, in\ 
lord, when you will know the exact truth of what I have told 
you. Time is a sovereign master. It will teach you to appre- 
ciate the man, who, loaded with your benefits, departed from 
the Court of Russia with a memorial prepared by other hands 
and the enemies of your glory, and of which memorial he made 
no use, because your brilliant success at the taking of Oczakoff, 
which he learned on his arrival in White-Russia, gave tho lie 
to all the horrors which had been brought forward to enrage 
the Empress against you. You know it was the echo of another 
intriguer at the Court of Vienna. In fine, time will teach you, 
my lord, that I am neither a mountebank nor a swindler, but a 
man, true and loyal. I rely upon the attachment and friend- 
ship which you promised me : I rely on it, because 1 feel my- 
self worthy of it : I reclaim your promise, because you are 
just, and I know you are a lover of truth. 

I commanded, and was the only responsible person in the 
campaign of Liman, the others being only of inferior rank, or 
simple volunteers ; I am, however, the only one who has not 
been promoted or rewarded. I am extremely thankful for the 
order of St. Ann, which you procured for me, according to your 
letter of thanks for my conduct in the affair of the 1th of June, 
which was not decisive. The 17th June, I gained over the 
Captain Pacha a complete victory, which saved Cherson and 
Kinbourn, the terror of which caused the enemy to lose nine 
vessels of war, in their precipitate flight on the following 
night, under the cannon of the battery and breastwork which I 
had caused to be erected on the Isthmus of Kinbourn. On 
this occasion 1 had the honor again to receive a letter of thanks : 
but my enemies and my rivals have found means to abuse your 
confidence, since they have been exclusively rewarded. They 
merited rather to have been punished for having burnt nine 
armed prizes with their crews, which were absolutely in our 
power, having previously ran aground under our guns. 

I have been informed that, according to the institution of the 
order of St. George, I have the right to claim its decoration in 
the second class, for the victory of the 17th June, but 1 rely 
upon your justice and generosity. 

I regret that a secret project which I addressed to the Count 
du Besborodska, the 6th of June of the last year, has not been 
adopted. I communicated this project to the Baron de Beihler, 
who has promised me to speak to you of it. 

I was detained in St. Petersburg until the end of August, in 
order to hinder me, as 1 have heard, from proceeding into the 
service of Sweden — my poor enemies, how 1 pity them ! But 
for this circumstance my intention was to have presented my- 



325 

self at your head-quarters, in the hope to be of some utility 5 
and the Baron de Beihler, in departing from St. Petersburg in 
order to join you, promised me to assure you of my devotion 
for the service of your department, and that I held myself 
ready to return to you the instant 1 was called. My conduct 
has not since changed, although I hold in my hand a parole for 
two years, and I regard 18 months of this parole, in a time of 
war, more as a punishment than as a favor. 

I hope that your Highness will succeed in concluding peace 
this year with the Turks ; bat in a rontrary case, if it should 
please you to recal me to take command of the flpet in the en- 
suing campaign, I would ask permission to bring with me the 
French officer concerning whom 1 spoke to you, with one or 
two others, who are good tacticians, and who have some know- 
ledge of war. On my return here, I received a gold medal, 
granted me by the unanimous voice of Congress, at the moment 
I received a parole from this honorable body. The United 
States have decreed me this honor, in order to perpetuate the 
remembrance of the services which I rendered to America, 
eight years previous, and have ordered a copy to be presented 
to all the sovereigns and all the academies of Europe, with the 
exception of Great Britain. There is reason to believe that 
your Highness will be numbered among the Sovereigns of Eu- 
rope in consequence of the treaty of peace which you are about 
lo conclude with the Turks ; but in any case, if a copy of my 
medal will be acceptable to you, as a mark of my attachment to 
your person, it will do me an honour to offer it to you. 

I have the honor to be, &c. 

The following letter which the Vice-Admiral wrote to the 
Enapress Catharine, on the 25th of February, 1 791, exhibits 
in unequivocal terms, the wound inflicted on his feelings, 
and the pain which he endured from the unpleasant situa- 
tion in which he was suffered to remain : 

Paris, Feb. 25-8 March, I79I. 

Her Imperial Majesty of all the Russias. 
Madam, 

If I could imagine that the letter which I had the honor to 
write to your Majesty from Warsaw, Sept. 25th-6th Oct. 
1789, had come to hand, it would be without doubt indiscreet in 
me to beg you to cast your eyes on the documents enclosed, 
which accuse no person, and the only intent of which is to let 
you see that in the important campaign of Liman, the part 
which I played, was not either that of a Zero or of a Harlequin 
which required " to be made a colonel at the tail of bis reg[- 



32& 

ifient.'* I have in my hands the means to prove incontestibly 
that I directed all the useful operations against the Captain Pa- 
cha. The task which was given me at this critical conjuncture 
was very difficult. I was obliged to sacrifice my own opinion, 
and risk my military reputation for the benefit of your Empire. 
But I hope you will be satisfied with the manner in which I 
conducted myself, and also of my subsequent arrangements of 
which I am persuaded you have not been acquainted until this 
moment. The gracious counsel which your Majesty has often 
done me the honor to repeat to me before mj departure for the 
Black Sea, and in thfi letter which you have deigned to write to 
me afterward, has since been the rule of my conduct ; and 
the faithful attachment with which you had inspired me for your 
person was the only reason which hindered me from requesting 
my dismissal when I wrote to you from Warsaw, for 1 confess 
that 1 was extremely afflicted and even offended at having re- 
ceived a parole for two years in time of war. A parole which 
it has never entered into my mind to wish for, and still less to 
ask, and of which I have not profited to go to America, or 
even to Denmark, where I had important business ; for I had 
always hoped to have been usefully employed m your service 
before the expiration of this parole which has done me so much 
injury, and although, in public, I would not have failed to have 
spoken to you at the last audience which you granted me, but I 
unfortunately was led to believe the repeated promises made 
me, that I should have a private audience in order to lay be- 
fore you my military projects, and to speak of them in detail. 

I hope that the brilliant success with which Providence has 
blessed your arms, will enable you to grant peace to your ene- 
mies without shedding more of human blood, but in a contrary 
case your Majesty can be well instructed from my project, No* 
12, of the last year. 

As I have my enemies, and as the term of my parole is about 
to expire, I await the orders of your Majesty, and should be 
flattered, if it is your pleasure, to come and render you an ac- 
count in person. Mr. who has the goodness to charge 

himself with this packet, which I have addressed to him, sealed 
with my arms, will also undertake to forward me your orders : 
I therefore pray you to withdraw me as soon as possible from 
the cruel uncertainty in which I am placed. Should you deign. 
Madam, to inform me that you are pleased with the services 
which I have had the happiness to render you, I will console 
myself for the misfortunes which 1 have suff'ered, as I drew 
my sword for you from personal attachment for you and ambi- 
tfOD, but not for interest. My fortune, as you know, is not very 



censiderable, but as T am philosopher enough to contine myself 
to my means, I shall always be rich. 

I have the honor to be, Madam, yours, &c. 

Mr. Jefferson had now returned to America, and entered 
upon the duties of Secretary of State, under the Presidency 
of Washington. Still smarting under the injuries he had 
received in Russia, Jones addressed the annexed letter to 
that old and steadfast friend : 

Paris, March 20th, 179K 

His Excellency Thomas Jefferson, Esq. 
Dear Sir, 

On my return from Russia to Amsterdam, in December, 1789, 
I wrote to several gentlemen in America, particularly to the 
Vice-President, and to Mr. Secretary Thomson, enclosing some 
evidence of the treatment I met with in Russia. I wrote at the 
same time to the President, enclosing a letter from the Count 
de Segur. Messrs. Stuphorsts and Hubbard undertook to for- 
ward my packets by a ship, then ready to sail for Philadelphia, 
called the Pennsylvania Packet, John Earl, Master ; but though 
that ship arrived safe I have not to this hour received a single 
line in answer. 

I need not express to you the pleasure T received from your 
acceptance of thp honorable and high station of Secretary of 
State for domestic and foreign affairs. I felicitate our country 
on having wisely confided her interest to such worthy and able 
hands ; but it gives me pain that so inadequate a provision has 
been made for doing the honors incumbent on the first minister 
of a nation of such resources as America, and I wish that mat- 
ter may be soon changed to your satisfaction. 

As it has been, and still is, my first wish and highest ambition 
to shew myself worthy of the flattering marks of esteem with 
which I have been honored by my country, I think it my duty 
to lay before you, both as my particular friend and as a public 
minister, the papers I now enclose relative to my connexion 
with Russia, viz. — Three pieces, dated at St. Petersburg, and 
signed by the Count de Segur ; a letter from me, dated at Paris 
last summer, and sent to the Prince de Potemkin, and a letter 
from me to the Empress, dated a few days ago. 1 have selected 
these testimonials from a great variety of, perhaps, still stronger 
proofs in my hands ; but though the Baron de Grimm has un- 
dertaken to transmit to her Imperial Majesty's own hands my 
last packet, I shall not be surprised, if I should find myself con- 
strained to withdraw from the Russian service, and to publish 
my jourDal of the campaign I commanded ; in that case I hope 



.i28 

TO prove to the world, that my operations not only saved Cher- 
son and Crimea, but decided the fate of the war. 

Chevalier Littlepage, now here on his way from Spain to the 
north, has promised me a letter to you on my subject, which I 
presume will shew the meanness and absurdity of the intrigues 
that were practised for my persecution at St. Petersburg. I did 
not myself comprehend all the blackness of that business be- 
fore he came here and related to me the information he received 
from a gentleman of high rank in the dipolmatique, with whom 
he travelled in company from Madrid to Paris. That gentle- 
man had long resided in a public character at the court of St. 
Petersburg, and was there all the time of the pitiful complot 
against me ; which was conducted by a little-great man, behind 
the curtain. 

The unequal reception with which I had, at first, been 
honored by the Empress had been extremely mortifying and 
painful to the English at St. Petersburg, and the courtier just 
mentioned, (finding that politics had taken a turn far more alarm- 
ing than he had expected at the begmning of the war,) wishing 
to sooth the court of London into a pacific humour, found no 
first step so expedient as that of sacrificing me ! But instead of 
producing the eifect he wished, this base conduct, on which he 
pretended to ground a conciliation, rather widened the political 
breach, and made him to be despised by the English minister, 
by the English cabinet, and by the gentleman who related the 
secret to the Chevalier Littlepnge. 

I must farther inform you, that a few days after my arrival 
from Denmark at St. Petersburg, I received from the Danish 
minister at that court a letter under the seal of the Count de 
Bernstorff, which having opened, 1 found to be a patent from 
the King of Denmark, in the following terms : 

" Having reasons for wishing to give new proofs of our bounty 
to the Chevalier Paul Jones, Commander in Chief of the squa- 
drons of the United States of America, and desiring, above all, 
to prove our esteem in consequence of the regard which he has 
shewn for the Danish flag during the time of his command in the 
northern seas, we grant him from the present moment, and an- 
nually during his life, the sum of fifteen hundred crowns, Da- 
nish currency, to be paid at Copenhagen, without any retention 
whatsoever. Done at our Castle of Christianbourg, the 4th of 
April, 1788." 

The day before I left the court of Copenhagen, the Prince 
Royal had desired to speak with me in his apartment. His 
Royal Highness was extremely poHte, and after saying many 
civil things, remarked, he hoped I was satisfied with the atten- 
tions that had been shewn to me since my arrival, and that the 



32y 

King would wish to give me some mark ot his esteem. '• 1 
have never had the happiness to render any service to His Ma- 
jesty," — " That is nothing — a man Hke you ought to be excepted 
from ordinary rules. You could not have shewn yourself more 
delicate as regards our flag, and every person here loves 3'ou." 

I took leave without farther explanation. I have felt myself 
in an embarrassing situation on account of the King's patent, 
and I have as yet made no use of it, though three years have 
nearly elapsed since I received it. I wished to consult you, but 
when I understood that you would not return to Europe, I con- 
sulted Mr. Short and Mr. G. Morris, who both gave me their 
opinion, that I may with propriety accept the advantage offered. 
I have in consequence determined to draw for the sum due, and 
I think you will not disapprove of this step, as it can by no 
means weaken the claim of the United States, but rather the 
contrary. 

You will observe that the Empress of Russia has decorated 
me with the great order of St. Ann ; and as I have appeared 
with that order ever since, I must beg the favor of you to ob- 
tain and transmit to me, as soon as possible, the proper authority 
of the United States, for my retaining that honor. You are 
sensible I did not accept the offer of her Imperial Majesty with 
a view to detach myself from the service of America, but that 
I have done my utmost to fulfil the intention of Congress in send- 
ing me last to Europe, " to acquire that degree of knowledge 
which may hereafter render me more extensively useful." I 
have in some measure, by my experience and observation, 
effected the object of my pursuit ; though I confess I have still 
much to learn, and I wish to embrace the first occasion to em- 
bark in the French fleet of evolution. 

I have not since my return here appeared at court ; but the 
Marquis de Lafayette will shortly conduct me to the King, when 
I shall present my journal of the American war, with the letter 
of which I am bearer from the United States. 

I reserve for my return to America to produce to the United 
States full and unquestionable evidence, signed by the Grand 
Pensioner, that my conduct in 1779, drew the United Netherlands 
into the war. This is saying enough to a man of your infor- 
mation ; for it would be superfluous to enumerate the advanta- 
ges that thence resulted to America, particularly the great event 
which took place under your own eyes, and which could not 
have happened if Holland had remained a neutral power. 

I am much obliged by the trouble you took in forwarding, 
before you left Europe, the busts I had promised to different 
gentlemen in America. Having lately received a letter from 
Mr. Burton, a former member of Congress, with whom 1 had 

Tt 



the honor of being acquainted at New York, requestuigmy bust 
in behalf of the state of North-Carohna, I have ordered Mr. 
Houdan to prepare and forward it by the first ship from Havre- 
de-Grace, for Philadelphia ; and as that bust will be decorated 
with the order o( St. Ann, on the American uniform, this is one 
reason why I wish to be authorized by the United States, to 
wear that order. I shall take the liberty of addressing the bust 
to you, requesting you to deliver it to the North-Carolina dele- 
gates, who will be so good as to forward it to the Governor of 
that state. 

I continue to be sensibly affected by the situation of our poor 
countrymen at Algiers : the more so as I learn indirectly from 
the pirate, now here, who took the greatest part of them, that 
if they are not very soon redeemed, they will be treated with 
no more lenity than is shown to other slaves. He told this to 
Mr. Littlepage who repeated it to me. 

I have the honor to be, &c. 

The letter promised by Mr. Littlepage, and adverted to 
l)y Jones was as follows : — 

Paris, March 23, 1791. 

His Excellency Thomas Jefferson, Esq. 
Sir, 

You will share my regret in reflecting that we were the prin- 
cipal means of engaging Admiral Sir John Paul Jones to accept 
the propositions made to him in 1788 by the Russian Court. 
Never were more brilliant prospects held forth to an individual, 
and never individual better calculated to attain them. The 
campaign upon the Liman of 1788, added lustre to the arms of 
Russia, and ought to have established for ever the reputation 
and fortune of the gallant officer to whose conduct those suc- 
cesses were owing : — but unfortunately in Russia, more perhaps 
than elsewhere, every thing is governed by intrigue. Some 
political motives, I have reason to think, concurred in depriving 
Admiral Paul Jones of the fruits of his services : — he was 
thought to be particularly obnoxious to the English nation, and 
the idea of paying a servile compliment to a power whose enmity 
occasions all the present embarrassments of Russia, induced 
some leading persons to ruin him in the opinion of the Empress 
by an accusation too ridiculous. 

It would be needless to enter into details ; you have too 
much confidence in Admiral Paul Jones to doubt the veracity of 
what he will personally communicate to you, and to which I 
refer yon. 

I have the honor to be, &c. 
L. Littlepage 



331 

Hitherto the reader has seen the Vice- Admiral Paul Jones 
chiefly in his naval character. In another light, however, 
his life was not without interest. In his visits to Paris, and 
during his stay in the ports of France and Holland, his cor- 
respondence with several of the fair sex, and some of them 
of the highest distinction, demonstrates that he was not in- 
sensible to the charms of beauty and the delights of love. 
Judging him, in this respect, by the ardor of a few of those 
with whom he communicated by letter, he would seem to 
have been as successful in his amatory career as he was in 
that on the ocean. He triumphed as much in the affections 
of the ladies as he did in his contests with the enemy ; and, 
amidst the gay scenes of Paris, the political intrigues of 
courts, and the bustle of nautical preparation, he found time 
to sacrifice to the graces, and win the attentions of the sex. 
It cannot be doubted, that the fame of his actions contribu- 
ted to render him popular wherever he appeared, and serv- 
ed as an introduction, not only to the houses of the ordinary 
class of wealthy citizens, but to the hotels of nobles and to 
the palaces of princes. The French, always fond of glory, 
could not fail to receive with a cheering welcome the gal- 
lant Jones wherever he appeared ; and the author of this 
work has before him the indubitable evidence, that, at Paris 
in particular, cards of courtesy, of invitation, and notes of 
congratulation, poured in upon him in abundance. At his 
lodgings, on his visits to eminent personages, in the active 
pursuits of business, he was solicited, pressed, and fairly 
forced into parties, recreations, and amusements of all sorts. 
The nobility and gentry of Versailles were proud of his ac- 
quaintance, and the women of fashion did not think their 
assemblies complete unless Jones moved in the circle. — 
From among many letters a sufficient number has been se- 
lected for publication to portray his influence with the fair : 

From a Lady who wrote under the signature of Delia. 
Pardon me, oh ! my beloved, if I am indiscreet ; but I am 

oppressed with fears, — fears which I felt at L , and which 

observing thy extreme delicacy on this subject, I never dared 
to express to thee : but I am told that neither thyself nor thy 
crew have yet been paid. In the name of that ardent love, 
which consumes me, write me if I can be use of to thee ; I have 
diamonds and effects of all sorts, which may be readily converted 
into cash : command thy mistress ; it will make her happy ; 
her heart pants to fly to thy support. Twenty times, when in 



332 

thy arm?, I have wished to speak to thee to this eliect, — but 
feared to offend thee. At Herbon, on that cruel evening when 
I expected to leave thee, (but which was afterward so fortu- 
nate for us,) at that moment when you pressed me to receive 
the object, of which you thought I would stand in need, but 
which I could have done without, — how often did I execrate the 
Chevaher, who deprived me of thy sight for at least two hours, 
when, oh ! God ! I counted every instant. Nothing but the 
hope of being beloved, gave me strength to tear myself from 
thee ; when I lost sight of thee, I was on the point of expiring 
with despair. No ! never canst thou conceive the horrible 
state, to which the most tender love reduced me : at that mo- 
ment, when thou badest me adieu, if thou hadst known what I 
meditated, it would have chilled thee with terror. Alas ! I 
thought that I beheld thee for the last time, and I wished to put an 
end to all my sufferings : death would have been acceptable when 
I left thy arms without a hope of seeing thee again. Dear and 
adorable Jones ! what would I not give if thou couldst remain 
but a little longer in France. Oh, God ! I am dying to rejoin 
thee, never again to be separated ; but I feel an agonizing pre- 
sentiment at my heart, that tells me that never again shall I be 
blessed with thy sight. Heavens ! Jones will forget me — he will 
cease to love me — he will have the barbarity to forget my pas- 
sionate devotion : but no ! his great soul is incapable of such 
cruelty ; and I rely as implicitly on his constancy as on Heaven 
itself. Excuse, dear love, this incoherent scrawl ; the troubled 
emotions of my heart absorb all my ideas. Thou askest my in- 
dulgence for thy verses ; adorable Jones ! how dear is thy mo- 
desty to my heart ! but never had any one less cause for it ; 
every thing belonging to thee is enchanting. Those incompara- 
ble lines, which portray so well thy noble mind and all its ele- 
vation, made me shed a flood of tears. Dear Jones ! thou art 
unequalled in thy perfections ; and never was mortal adored as 
thou art worshipped by my devoted heart. 

1 have just received, my dearest friend, your letter of the 
18th. How grateful am I for that charming letter so full of ten- 
derness, which expresses so well the most touching and delicate 
feelings ; every line paints a sentiment. Oh ! dearest Jones ! 
what will be the joy, the transport of thy Deha, when she 
again beholds the author of those adorable letters ! The only 
consolation of which my grief is susceptible, is to receive them — 
to read them again and again — to think of thee — to contemplate 
thy picture ; and though it does not resemble thee, my fond 
imagination supplies its deficiency, and I sit for hours, my eyes 
bathed in tears, gazing on this faint resemblance of the most 
beloved of men. — while my heart, where thy cherished image 



333 

i-i indelibly eiigraveu, is torn with despair at thine absence. It 
has been impossible for me, my friend, to write thee for some 
days : I have been very ill — and am yet extremely weak ; the 
various sorrows I have of late experienced, and thy absence, 
the severest of them all, have greatly contributed to my recent 
indisposition : but I am better — thanks to thy inestimable letters, 
and the delicious assurances therein contained of our reunion 
and thy continued affection. Thou dost not mention the cause 
of thy long stay at L'Orient ; I greatly fear that this detention 
will prevent thy return — at least for a long time. If this happy 
letter whose destination I envy, gets to hand before thy depar- 
ture, give me some information on this subject : the deep and 
sincere interest which I feel in all that concerns you alone 
prompts this request ; but if it is an indiscreet one, do not 
gratify it. Adieu ! too dear and amiable Jones ; receive the 
vows of that ardent love, which will continue till the last mo- 
ment of my existence, and which offers the most fervent prayers 
that happiness and success may always attend thee. Adieu ! 
adieu ! < 

Your letter of which I received on Sunday, the 20th, 

lacerates my heart, and increases my despair ; I kissed with 
sad and concentered grief, the traces of thy precious tears, — and 
shed a flood of the bitterest drops that ever flowed from a 
breaking heart. I am oppressed with the weight of my sor- 
rows — and my mind is plunged in a chaos of doubts and fears. 
No I never, I feel, never did I love until that moment, at once so 
dear and so fatal to my repose, when fate presented you to my 
ravished sight ; that moment fixed my destiny for ever. Yes ! my 
tender and adorable friend ; on you alone depends that destiny : 
you alone have the power to make my happiness or misery. 
Pardon this frank confession, oh ! my dear Jones ; and be per- 
suaded that deeming thee incapable of a mean action, I love, 
esteem, and even respect thee : never otherwise would I have re-f 
vealed thus freely all thy power over every faculty of my being. 
I adore thee I again repeat ; and never did any other mortal po& 
sess such sway over my heart — this, my dear and only friend, ih 
my pledge of faith ; I am thine — and thine only — during my 
whole Hfe. Be, therefore, tranquil ; console thyself ; and let 
us hope that pitying Heaven will re-unite us, and watch ov«r 
the lot of two beings, who love faithfully, and whose upright 
hearts deserve to be happy. Be careful of thy life, and re- 
member that mine depends on it. I incessantly address myself 
to Heaven for your safe arrival in America ; if you are satis^ed 
with that government, you will continue in its service ; if hot 



334 

resign, and rejoin your faithful friend ; tlie whole world besides 
may forsake you but her heart is eternally yours : I swear it by 
that sacred flame, which will never be extinguished in my breast. 
You ask how you can render me happy ;— take care of your- 
self — love me — study the means of enabling us to pass our days 
together ; and never forget that my life is bound up in yours, — 
and that the moment, which deprives me of you, will put an end 
to all my miseries. Your health is dear — ten thousand times 
dearer to me than my own ; if you love me, do not neglect it. 
I have received your letter of the 16th, which increases my 
solicitude on this point ; in the name of all that is sacred, take 
care of your precious self. Rely on my heart ; it is yours — 
and nothing can operate a change in its sentiments. I adore you 
for yourself alone, — and it is thus that you should be loved. If 
I was capable of thinking otherwise, I would not suffer you to 
depart, and to expose your invaluable life. The thoughts of 
your danger brings back all the weakness of my sex ; and I 
confess that my anxiety and frightful alarms for the object of all 
my wishes, will, without doubt, hasten my death. The terror 
and solicitude that I feel for my lover are indescribable. Dear 
Jones ! adieu ; I am forced to leave thee ; I cannot go on. The 
Chevalier assures you of his respect and friendly sentiments ; 
he sets out to-morrow evening ; alas ! happier than his unfor- 
tunate sister, he wdl soon see you. God ! she would willingly 
be the lowest of your crew. 

Six posts have arrived, and still no tidings from you ; my 
heart sinks at the thoughts of so cruel a neglect. Are you sick ? 
or have you ceased to love me ? Oh God ! this idea chills my 
heart. No ! I cannot believe you so barbarous ; you cannot 
desire my death. Is it possible that absence has destroyed my 
happiness ? Alas ! if absence has deprived me of your heart, 
it is not thus with regard to my feelings towards you, since you 
are now a thousand times dearer to me than on that horrible day 
of our separation. Your letters, your assurances of attach- 
«ent, the inclination of my heart ; all have contributed to aug- 
nent my affection. But perhaps I must renounce for ever all 
fcose fond hopes that have induced me to cherish life : but I may 
le wrong thus to despair. Yes ! I am too sensitive and fearful ; 
tie amiable and tender Jones is as faithful a lover as he is a 
vUiant warrior and a zealous patriot : all those rare qualities are 
Uiited in the object of all my thoughts and affections ; to doubt 
hi! constancy would be an injury — nay, a crime. Pardon, dear 
fri>nd, my apprehensive terrors ; I will compel my foolish heart 
to be more tranquil. Judge of the excess of my love by roy 
agonizing dread of losing your esteem — your heart. 



S3o 

These letters Irom Delia, it will be admitted, are in ra- 
ther^an extravagant strain. They certainly discover a great 
excess of feeling, and if the effusions be not sincere, the 
writer must have had an uncommon faculty of giving reality 
to artificial expressions. 

Jones wrote an affectionate letter to Delia after his arri- 
val in America : 

December 25, 1781. 
I wrote my most lovely Delia various letters from Phila- 
delphia, the last of which was dated the 20th of June. On 
the 26th of that month I was unanimously elected by Con- 
gress to command the Americn of 74 guns, on the stocks, at 
Portsmouth, New-Hampshire. I superintended the building, 
which I found so much more backward than I expected, 
that a plan of operation I had in view is entirely defeated. 
I expected to have been at sea this winter, but the building 
does not go on with the vigor I could wish. Since I came 
here I have not found a single good opportunity to write to 
Europe. I have not since heard from your relation I left be- 
hind, but suppose he is with the army. This situation is doubly 
irksome to me, my lovely friend, as it stops my pursuit of 
honor as well as love ! It is now more than twelve months 
since 1 left France ; yet I have not received a single letter from 
thee in all that time, except the one written in answer to my 
letter at taking leave. That one is a tender letter indeed, and 
does honor to thy matchless heart I I read often and always 
with transport the many charming things that are so well ex- 
pressed in thy letters ; but especially the last. Thy adieu has 
in it all the finer feelings, blended with the noblest sentiments of 
the heart ! Providence, all good and just, has given thee a soul 
worthy in all respects to animate nature's fairest work. I rest 
therefore sure that absence will not diminish, but rejine the pure 
and spotless friendship that binds our souls together, and will 
ever impress each to merit the affection of the other. Remem- 
ber and believe my letter at parting. It was but a faint picture 
of my heart. I will find opportunities to write, and be every 
thing thou canst wish. My address is under cover to the Hon. 
Robert Morris, Esq. Minister of Finance, Philadelphia. 

The men as well as the women were infatuated with the 
Chevalier. The annexed letter affords proof of the flame 
which his reputation had kindled up, impelling individuals 
of good families and connexions to seek for celebrity under 
his command : 



Januui'y, 1780. 

SlK, 

Although I have not the honor of a personal acquaintance 
^vith you, the fame of your exploits, and the glory you acquired 
in your last engagement, induce me to ask a favor at your hands ; 
it is to grant me an opportunity of being a witness of, and a par- 
taker in your chivalrous adventures. Understanding that you 
are now at Dunkirk, where, without doubt, the desire of flying 
to achieve new conquests, will not suffer you to remain long ; I 
hasten to offer you my services. I have the honor to request 
that you will receive me simply as a volunteer, in order that 
having no fixed post, I may be every where : I have farther only 
to stipulate that you will admit me to your own table, and place 
me under your immediate command, so that I may satiate my 
eyes with the pleasure of beholding your courage, and at least 
imitate, for it is impossible to equal it. If I should be fortunate 
enough to obtain this favor, rest assured that you will always 
find me in the path of honor. I have been long in the service of 
my country ; but the reform which I have introduced in the 
corps to which I belong, leaves me at leisure to employ myself 
elsewhere. Having a passion for a sea-hfe, which I have already 
partially gratified by a voyage to the Indies, I am eager to make 
one or two campaigns. Since the moment when the fame of your 
glorious expedition spread through the world, I have wished to 
serve under your orders ; and seize the present opportunity to 
assure you, that, if you accept my proferred services, you will 
never have cause to repent it : circumstances of a very pecu- 
liar nature render me very anxious to execute this intention. I 
will waive all mention of my family ; chance has thrown me in 
an elevated situation ; this is my only observation on this sub- 
ject. If you design an expedition immediately, and will receive 
me in the number of those who are emulous to acquire glory 
under your command, have the goodness to write me, and I will 
immediately repair to the spot you may point out. 
I have the honor to be, &c. 

De Tourneville. 

On one occasion a lady declined his advances in the fol- 
lowing delicate manner ; although it would appear that she 
had induced them : 

Sir, 
I am grateful for the sentiments which you entertain for me, 
and it would give me pleasure to reply to them ; but I could not 
do so without deceiving a gentleman with whom I live ; and that 



is what 1 am incapable of doing. After this confession you must 
be aware of my way of thinking ; and that what I said yesterday 
was only meant in jest. 

With all possible consideration, Sir, 

I have the honor to be your affectionate servant. 

The annexed note is rather more equivocal : 

Madame de H., begs Mr. Jones to pardon the liberty she 
lakes in addressing him without having the honor of his ac- 
quaintance ; and requests a moment's conversation with him at 
her apartments in the royal palace, or at the hotel of the Duch- 
ess of . She asks a thousand pardons if she should be 

the means of giving him any trouble at the moment of his de- 
parture ; but he must not be astonished that all are eager to 
profit by the present opportunity of seeing him. 

In one of the preceding letters, the enraptured Delia 
speaks of certain verses of the Chevalier. Among his pa- 
pers are those subjoined, which are, perhaps, the same that 
the lad J alluded to : 

I. 

When Jove I'rom high Olympus goes 

To Ida, and the fair below, 
All heav'n laments — but Juno shews. 

A jealous and superior wo : 
III vain to her all pow'ris given. 

To female weakness ever dear ; 
She scorns the sov'reignty of heav'n. 

Her God, her Jove, seems all to her ! 

II. 
But when the Thunderer returns. 

And seeks his skies, (so Homer sings.) 
Soft flames th' impatient goddess bums I 

She hastes to meet the King of kings ; 
Swift as the light her chariot flies, 

Her swifter wishes fly before ; 
Still joyous in the middle-skies, 

She meets the cloud-compelling pow'<. 

in. 

T'rolilic nature feels th' embrace, 

Superior blossoms, fruits and flow'rg, 
irpring up, — heav'n wears a brighter fatr- 

And fragrance ^n profusion show'r? 

Uu 



338 

Celestial raptures who can tell r 

Ours all divine I are only felf, 
\Vhat bold presumptuous stiains shall swell. 

With transports which the gods can melt ! 

IV. 

'I'hus when thy warrior, though no god, 

Brings JFVeerfoni's standard o'er the main. 
Long absent from thy blest abode, 

Casts anchor in dear France again ; 
' O ! thou more heavenly I — far more kind 

Than Juno, as thy swain than Jove, 
With what heart' s-transport, raptur'd mind ! 

Shall we approach on wings of love I 

This is no unfavorable sample of Jones's poetical abili- 
ties. The sentiments are impressive, and in some degree 
sublime. The thoughts arc comprehensive, and correspond 
with the vigor of his general character. It is apparent, from 
the original manuscript, that the Chevalier, in making love, 
was a truant, adapting his rhymes to situation and circum- 
stances. The fourth line of the fourth stanza is varied, so 
as to answer either for France or America : Thus, 

" Cast anchor in dear France again,"' 

fs changed to, 

" Infair Columbia moors again."" 

This may be denominated the economy of versification. 
It is a trick probably often practised by more persons than 
Jones. 

Whatever may have been the devotion which Jones pro- 
fessed for the sex, it was obvious that ambition was the 
predominating passion in his breast, and that he even made 
his love affairs subservient to his desire of glory. The fol- 
lowing letter to a lady at court, just before his departure for 
America, contains a mixture of respectful salutation, and a 
solicitation of female influence in his behalf : — 

UOrient, August 6th, 1780. 
To A Lapv. 

Madam, 
I had the honor to write to you on the 14th ult. but have not 
yet had the satisfaction to receive any of your letters since that 
rime. This makes me fear you are now determioed to punish me 



339 

tor my former silence ; yet I am frequently in doubt about this, 
as I hope you will shew mercy when you know that I repent ?— 
1 send this by a certain conveyance ; and will hope for the ho- 
nor of having a letter from you in return. Present if you please 
my best respects to the Duke and Duchess ; I shall ever enter- 
tain the most profound regard for that amiable princess, and be 
ambitious to merit the continuance of her friendship. 1 ad<i my 
address at Philadelphia, and depend on frequent letters from you 
while I am in America. The Court has a plan of mine respect- 
ing my future services to be asked of Congress by the Court. 
I have the greatest desire to give the world farther proofs of my 
grateful zeal for the interests *»f the King, the government, and 
this generous-minded nation, by my actions against the common 
enemy of France and America. Will you, dear madam, honor 
me with your interest, that an application may be made by go- 
vernment to Congress, that I may henceforth, during the war, 
be employed in the most active and enterprising services. 
I am ever, with the highest sentiments of esteem and respect. 
Madam, 

Your most obliged and faithful servant. 

A friend had written to the Chevalier, on the 30th of 
October, 1779, on the occasion of that friend's marriage: 

" You have been reaping laurels, my friend, and I have been 
plucking roses, but your occupation is as much more glorious 
than mine, as the welfare of a community is more important than 
the happiness of an individual ; I think however, I have one ad- 
vantage over you, for mine has not been the work of destruc- 
tion, and I trust it will increase the species instead of diminish- 
ing them, and that you must allow is the ' cause of humanity /' 
In short, I am a married man, and my wife will be happy to 
number you among her friends. I return to Nantes from St. 
Germain to-morrow morning, and as soon as I arrive I will 
'write you on matters of business, at present I can think of 
nothing of that kind. . 

Alas, poor Richard ! we ought not, however, to regret so 
honorable an exit. Thank heaven you are preserved, and may 
another poor Dick shine gloriously under your command. All 
Europe are praising you except England. 

The subjoined letter to the Duke de Chartres, afterward 
Duke of Orleans, is in good style : 

Ariel, Groaix, September 22d, 1 780. 
His Royal Higness the Due de Chartres. 

My Prince, 
Two days since, Monsieur de Roberdeau delivered me the 



o4U 

letter you did me the honor to write me from Paris the ]8lh oi 
last month. It will, my Prince, always afford me the truest 
pleasure, when in my power, to conform to your wishes by ren- 
dering my best services to any person whom you please to re- 
commend to my attention ; and Captain de Roberdeau will, I 
hope, be satisfied with my conduct towards him. No man, my 
Prince, can be more ambitious to merit your esteem and protec- 
tion than myself; for no man can admire and venerate you 
more as a gallant and good officer, or esteem you with a more 
heartfelt affection than, my Prince, 

Your most obliged, &c. 

The following to Dr. John-Read, of Virginia, is an ex- 
cellent specimen of the expression of genuine friendship in 
an instance of pecuniary inability to comply with the re- 
quest of a friend : 

IJOrient, November 9th, 1780. 
Dr. Read. 
I have, my dear Sir, to thank you for several favors lately re- 
ceived from you. I postponed my answer because 1 have been 
in daily expectation of returning to America, but cannot how- 
ever, omit the opportunity of your brother to acquaint you that, 
for these five years past military affairs have engaged my whole 
attention. I am as much a stranger to trade as if I had never 
been concerned in it. I have served as a volunteer in the 
American Revolution, and to this moment have neither received 
pay nor subsistence fi'om the public. My property in the many 
prizes I took before I left America went through the hands of 
agents who did great injustice to the captors ; and it has since 
melted away by the depreciation of the Continental paper mo- 
ney. Gain has never been my object, and since I came to 
France hard blows and honor have been my sole income. Judge 
therefore, my dear friend, if I am able to establish a h)an for 
you ? — I could not do it for myself because I want funds, and 
could not give the necessary security. Ifyou are determined to 
enter into trade I would advise you to buy bills of exchange on 
France from the Consul-General at Philadelphia. Send these 
bills to a good house here, with orders to ship the goods you 
propose in very small parcels by each of the fast-sailing vessels 
that come here from Philadelphia, Maryland, or Virginia. Thus 
you will divide your risk, and have more neat profit than by be- 
ing concerned in shipping and cargoes from America. These 
opinions I take from the best merchants here, therefore you 
can the better depend upon them. Present my best respects to 
Mrs. Read ; when I come to Virginia and have a moment to 



.34 J 

spare from my public duties, I will with great pleasure pay you 
a visit. — Be assured it will ever give me happiness to be useful 
to you, when fortune puts in my power the means ; for I truly 
am, my dear friend. Your most affectionate, &.c. 

To general Washington, in August 1778, Jones wrote as 
follows : 

Passy, Aug. 6th, 1778. 
His Excellency Gen. Washington, Commander in chief of 

the American Army, at his head-quarters. 
Honored Sir, 

As the scene of war by sea is now changed from America to 
Europe, I have been induced to give up the command of the 
American ship of war Ranger, and to continue for some time 
in Europe, in compliance with the request of the minister of 
the French marine, in a letter to our ministers plenipotentiary 
at the Court of Versailles. 

I will not intrude on your Excellency's time even by attempt- 
ing to pay you the respect which you so justly command. — The 
intention of this letter is only to beg your acceptance of two 
epaulettes, with which it is accompanied, and which my friend 
Mr. Williams, of Nantes, has undertaken to forward : — I ex- 
pected to have had the honor of delivering this little present 
into your own hands, but not having that satisfaction, if I can 
render you any acceptable services in France, I hope you will 
command me without reserve, being with sentiments of perfect 
esteem. Honored Sir, 3'ours, &c. 

The Chevalier's opinion of the qualifications requisite in 
a chaplain for his ship, is given in a letter to Mr. Grand : 

Extract of a letter to H. Grand. 

rassy, July 12th, 1778. 

In the selection of a chaplain, the following qualifications arc 
deemed requisite. 

I could wish him to be a man of reading and of letters, 
who understands, speaks, and writes the French and English 
with elegance and propriety : for political reasons it would be 
well if he were a clergyman of the Protestant profession, whose 
sanctity of manners, and happy natural principles, would diffuse 
unanimity and cheerfulness through the ship. And if to these 
essentials is added the talent of writing fast and in fair cha- 
racters, such a man would necessarily be worthy the highest 
confidence, and might, therefore, assure himself of my esteem 
and friendship ; he should always have a place at my table, the 
Te2;ulation whereof would be entirelv under his direction. 



342 

One of his letters to Madame de la Fayette, is in thes( 
terms : 

UOrient, July 2Sth, 1780. 
Madame la Marquise de la Fayette, a Paris. 

Madam, 
I am once more nearly ready for the sea. — If I can in any 
respect render you acceptable services, you know 1 have so 
much esteem and respect for yourself, and so much affectionate 
friendship for your husband, that you will I hope, command hie 
freely. — I expect to embrace the Marquis about the first of Oc- 
tober ; and it is not impossible — that we may return together 
to France. Believe me, I am, with great sincerity and regard, 

Madam, your most obedient, &c. 

To Madam the President de Ormoy, he wrote thus : 

Ariel, Road of Groaix, Sept. 13, 1780. - 

Madame la Presidente de Ormoy, &.c. 
Madam, 

I cannot leave France without expressing how much I feel 
myself honored and obliged by the generous attention that you 
have shown to my reputation in your Journal. I will ever have 
the most ardent desire to merit the spontaneous praise of beauty 
and her pen ; and it is impossible to be more grateful than I 
am for the very polite attentions I lately received at Paris and 
Versailles. My particular thanks are due to you, Madam, for 
the personal proofs I have received of your esteem and friend- 
ship, and for the happiness you procured me in the society .of 
the charming Countess and other ladies and gentlemen of your 
circle. But I have a favor to ask of you, Madam, which I "hope 
you will grant me. You tell me in your letter, that the ink- 
stand I had the honor to present you as a small token of my es- 
teem, shall be reserved for the purpose of writing what con- 
cerns me. Now I wish you to see my idea in a more expanded 
light, and would have you make use of that ink-stand to instruct 
mankind and support the dignity and rights of human nature. 

I shall be happy in every part of the woi'ld to hear from you, 
and I beg leave to assure you, my best wishes will always attend 
you and yours ; being, with the highest esteem and respect, 
. Madam, your most obliged friend, &c. 

To the same lady he addressed another letter on the 16th 
of October, 1780. 

L' Orient, October, 16, 1780. 
Madame la Presidente de Ormoy, &c. ^' ' 

By the enclosed declaration of my officers you will see, my 



343 

dear Madam, that I was in a ticklish situation iu the moment 
\vhile you were employed in writing to me the 9th. It is im- 
possible to be more sensible than I am of the obligation confer- 
red on me by your attentions and kind remembrance joined to 
that of the belle Countess, your fair daughters, and the amiable 
ladies and gentlemen of your society. I have returned without 
laurels, and what is worse, without having been able to render 
service to the glorious cause of liberty. I know not why Nep- 
tune was in such anger, unless he thought it an aJBFront in me to 
appear on his ocean with so insignificant a force. It is certain 
that till the night of the 8th I did not fully conceive the awful 
majesty of tempest and shipwreck. I can give you no just idea 
of the tremendous scene that nature then presented ; which 
surpassed the reach even of poetic fancy and the pencil. I be- 
lieve no ship was ever before saved from an equal danger off" 
the point of the Penmark rocks. I am extremely sorry that the 
young English lady you mention should have imbibed the na- 
tional hatred against me. I have had proofs that many of the first 
and fairest ladies of that nation are my friends. Indeed I cannot 
imagine why any fair lady should be my enemy, since upon the 
large scale of universal philanthropy, I feel, acknowledge, and 
bend before the sovereign power of beauty. The English na- 
tion may hate me, but / will force them to esteem me too. You 
have heard, no doubt, that Captain Landais and all the officers 
of the Alliance have been laid under an arrest by order of Con- 
gress, on their arrival in America, and the command of the Al- 
liance was given to the brave Captain Barry. By the latest ad- 
vices, I have no enemies in that vast country. I shall be happy 
to hear from you, Madam, while I remain here, and I assure 
you I will embrace every occasion to prove my grateful attach- 
ment to this beloved nation, as well as to my friends in it. 
I am, with the highest esteem and respect, &c. 

On the 12th of December following, he vs rote again to the 
same lady : 

Ariel, U Orient, Dec. 12, 1780. 
Madame la Presidente de Ormoy, &c. 
To merit, dear Madam, the praise so warmly and well ex- 
pressed in the letter you did me the honor to write me the 22d 
ult., would be my supreme ambition. If I have any merit, it 
consists in good will and perseverance. My abilities are poor, 
and I want experience ; but opposition shall never cause my 
ardor to abate in pursuit of the glorious cause I have underta- 
ken to support. When I received your letter I was again ready 
for the sea, and have been waiting here with a fair wind ever 



mice, expecting from hour to hour the arrival ot'Mr. Gourladt, 
who brings the public despatches from our minister for Con- 
gress. In this situation, the boy you mentioned must have ar- 
rived here too late, otherwise 1 should, with great pleasure, 
have received him under my protection. Mr. Gourlade is, I 
hear, arrived at Nantes ; to-morrow, if he appears here, I shall 
depart. I am much flattered by your having mentioned me to 
so great a man as the King of Prussia — the world will ever 
treat his opinion with the highest respect. It is impossible for 
me to express the happiness I derive from your good opinion, 
and how proud I shall ever be to be found worthy of your affec- 
tionate friendship. With these sentiments, and the most pro- 
Ibund repect, I am, Madam, yours, &c. 

To the Countess of Bourbon, on the 21st of September, 
1780, he addressed hiniself in the following manner, in re- 
ply to one of her letters to him : 

Ariel, Road of Groaix, Sept. 21, 1780. 

Madame ta Comtesse de Bourbon, &.c. 
Madam, 

I was honored with the very polite letter that your Lady- 
ship condescended to write me the 5th of last month. I am 
sorry that you have found it necessary to refuse me the honor 
of accepting the deposit mentioned in my last ; but am now de- 
termined to follow your advice and be mj'self its guardian. A 
day or two before I wrote to you last I had received a challenge 
from Sir James Wallace, who in the Nonesuch, a ship of the 
line, copper bottomed and of superior swiftness, declared he 
waited in sight for my departure. Had I commanded an equal 
force I hope you will believe I would have employed my time 
otherwise than in writing you any proposition for the safety of a 
weapon that I should have hoped to use immediately with suc- 
cess. I have been detained in this open road by contrary and 
stormy winds since the 4th of this month. There is this mo- 
ment an appearance of a fair opportunity, and I will eagerly 
embrace it. I have received a letter from the first minister very 
favorable to the project I mentioned to you ; and you may de- 
pend on my utmost interest with Congress to bring the matter to 
issue. I am sure that assembly will with pleasure say all your- 
self or the court could wish respecting the Count, if my scheme 
is adopted. I have the satisfaction to inform you that by the 
testimony of all the persons just arrived in four ships at L'Ori- 
ent from Philadelphia, the Congress and all America appeared 
to be warmly my friends ; and my heart, conscious of its own 
uprightness, tells me I shall be well received, Dccjily and 



345 

gratefully impressed with a sense of the obligation I owe to you 
and your husband's attentions and good wishes, and ardently de- 
siring to merit your friendship, and the love of this nation, by my 
whole conduct through life, 

I remain Madam, your most obliged, kc. 

N. B, I will not fail to write whenever I have any thing 
worth your reading — at the same time may I hope to be honored 
now and then with a letter from you, directed to Philadelphia ? 
I was selfish in begging you to write me in French, because 
your letters would serve me as an exercise. Your English is 
correct and even elegant. 

To a lady, whose letters be had neglected to answer, he 
wrote as an apology thus : 

U Orient, July I4th, 1780. 
Madam, 

When one is conscious of having been in fault I believe it is 
the best way to confess it, and to promise amendment. This 
being my case with respect to you, Madam, I am too honest to 
attempt to excuse myself; and therefore cast myself at your feet 
and beg your forgiveness, on condition that I behave better herfe- 
after. For shame, Paul Jones, how could you let the fairest lady 
in the world, after writing you two letters, wait so long for an 
answer ! Are you so much devoted to war, as to neglect wit and 
beauty ? — I make myself a thousand such reproaches, and believe 
I punish myself as severely as you would do, Madam, were you 
present here. 

The truth is, I have been willing that the extraordinary events 
that have taken place here with respect to the frigate Alliance 
should be communicated to you ratlier by others, than by my- 
self; for though, God knows, 1 have not been to blame for these 
events, yet I have felt rather ashamed that they should have 
happened : the more so as the cause has been rather of a deli- 
cate nature. I will mention it however to you. M. de Chaumont 
has to this moment, unjustly retained from these poor people 
every sol, both of their wages and shares of prizes. And some 
envious persons found means to persuade them that 1 had con- 
curred with him in these measures. Nothing can be more false, 
I despise his base conduct, and have not even spoken nor writ- 
ten to him on account of it : on the contrary to procure for the 
men who had so bravely served under my command, their 
just rights, was the only business that brought me to court in the 
month of May. If I had not at last been sent back here without 
the means of paying them, no difficulty would have happened, 

Xx 



346 

As it is 1 have the satisfaction to know that none ot" them have 
complained of any ill treatment from me- 

I will write you often, and do every thing in my power to con- 
vince you how much I wish to merit your friendship, and with 
how much respect, and how profound regard, I have the honor 
to be, Yours, &c. 

The subjoined convivial and gallant letter was written to 
the Marquis de Nieuil : 

Dauphin Royale, Brest, June 9th, 1778. 
The Marquis de Nieuil, 

Were I disposed to be affronted with you, Marquis, you have 
^ven me a fair opportunity ; but fortunately for you, being at 
present under a cloud, 1 am not mounted on Pegasus, nor shall I 
be satirical in prose. 

Since you have endeavored to prove by great force of reason 
ajid argument that you have made a bad bargain, 1 am determined 
to reahze your " dream," as a punishment for your breach of 
friendship, for you know there is no friendship in trade. I intend to 
dine with you every day, if possible, and 1 will bring with me, too, 
father John if 1 can, so that as you will not save your wine, you 
have made a bad bargain indeed. 

I thank you for your friendly caution to use the wine you have 
sent me with moderation. As I am to drink so much on board the 
Dauphin, and as I do not incline to drink in the morning, your 
advice shall have its due effect. Some of your champaign will, 
perhaps, be reserved to make glad the hearts of our American 
fair ; and I hope, on such occasions, to have so much " remem- 
brance" left, as to propose the health of the giver. 

I am, &c. 

In the following lines another metrical effusion of Jones 
is presented for perusal : 

Verses written on board the Alliance off" Ushant, the \st day of 
January, 1780, immediately after escaping out of the Texel, 
from the Blockade of the British fleets ; being in answer to a 
piece written and sent to the Texel by a young Lady at the Hague. 

I. 

Were I, Paul Jones, dear maid, " the I^ing of sea," 

I find such merit in thy virgin song, 
\ coral crown with bays I'd give to thee, 

% f-av which on the waves should smoothly glide along : 




347 

The Nereides all about thy side should wait. 

And gladly sing in triumph of thy state 

*' Vivat, vivat, the happy virgin muse ! 

Of liberty the friend, who tyrant power pursues 1" 

II. 

Or, happier lot ! were fair Columbia fiee 

From British tyranny, — and youth still mine. 
I'd tell a tender tale to one like thee 

With looks and breast as pure as hers — or thine : 
If she approved my flame, distrust apart, 
Like faithful turtles, we'd have but one heart : 
Together then we'd tune the silver lyre, 
As love or sacred freedom should our lays inspire, 

III. 
But since, alas I the rage of war prevails, 

And cruel Britons desolate our land, 
For Freedom still I spread my willing sails, 

My unsheath'd sword my country shall command. 
Go on, bright maid ! the muses all attend 
Genius like thine, and wish to be its friend. 
Trust me, although conveyed through this poor shift, 
My New- Year's thoughts are grateful for thy gift. 

A letter from a Captain O'Connelly to the Chevalier will 
divert the reader. It proves at once the popularity of 
Jones, and the embarrassment of the Captain, a worthy 
Irishman, it is presumed, who was mistaken for him : 

Rotterdam, Dec. llth, 1779. 
My Dear Commodore, 

I am sincerely sorry I could not have the happiness of seeing 
you before setting off from the Helder. Having but little mo- 
ney to perform a long journey, obliged me to benefit of an oc- 
casion that oft'ered in the cheap way to Amsterdam. You'll 
easily conceive my reason for quitting, although I take nothing 
from the merit of Mr. Chamillard, yet, I thought myself too 
much advanced in years to be under his orders, besides, I per- 
ceived proceedings that were not agreeable to me : and hope 
you don't take the step that I have taken amiss. Believe me. 
Sir, that if I had the honor of being embarked with you, I 
would not quit you before the campaign was decided one way 
or the other. 

If I have no other advantage by the cruise I have made^ I 
am amply recompensed by being conducted by crowds of all 
ranks, through the streets in everv town I come to in this coun- 



34b 

ivy ; and can't dissuade them but I am the brave Paul Jones, but 
they will absolutely persist in their opinion, notwithstanding all 
the proofs 1 can allege to the contrary. When I show them my 
passport, they tell me I make use of a fictitious name, so that I 
suppose they will make me believe at last, I am you. 

If in case you should come into France to arm for the next 
year, and that you should have occasion tor one in my way, I 
beg you may let me know, and you may dtpend 1 will join you 
on sight. You'll be sure of finding me, by writing to Marquis 
de Braneas, Lieutenant General et Cordon blue in rue Tour- 
neau, F. S. G. Paris. As I have some demands to make of the 
minister, and as Dr. Franklin could be of use to me on the oc- 
casion, you will greatly oblige me, if you will be so kind as to 
solicit him in my favor, if you think you can do it without put- 
ting yourself under any obligations to him ; for I would be very 
sorry to think that on my account, you should hurt your deli- 
cacy in the least. If otherwise, and that you should think me 
worthy your remembrance, 1 will always esteem it as the great- 
est favor as long as 1 have the honor of being your most devoted, 
humble, and obedient servant, O'Connellv. 

P. S. If you should honor me with a few lines, my address is 
au Caffee Conty, F. S. G. Paris. My sincere compliments, if 
you please, to your gentlemen in general. 

In the course of his correspondence with one of the most 
distinguished citizens of America, who was at Paris in 1 787, 
the Chevalier unveiled a court secret. He was, at that time, 
in New- York, and wrote under date of the 4th of September 
of that year: 

(Private.) JVers?-York, Sept. 4, 1787. 

His Excellency Thomas Jefferson, Esq. 
Sir, 

I am much obliged to you for the letter from Madam T 

which you forwarded by the June packet. I now take the 
liberty to enclose a letter for that worthy lady ; and as I had 
not the happiness to introduce you to her, (because I wished 
her fortune to have been previously established,) I shall now 
tell you, in confidence, that she is the daughter of the late K*** 
and.of a lady of quality ,on whom his M****** bestowed a very 
large fortune on her daughter's account. Unfortunately the 
father died while the daughter (his great favorite) was very 
young ; and the mother has never since shewn her either jus- 
tice or natural affection. She was long the silent victim of that 
injustice ; but I had the pleasure to be instrumental in putting 
her in a fair way to obtain redress. His present M****** re- 



349 

ceived her last year with great kindness : he gave her altei'- 
ward several particular audiences, and said he charged himsell" 
with her fortune. Some things were, as I have understood, fixed 
on, that depended solely on the K*** ; and he said he would dic- 
tate the justice to be rendered by the mother. But the letter 

you sent me, left the feeling author all in tears ! Her friend 

her protectress — her introductress to the K***, was suddenly 
dead ! She was in despair ! She lost more than a mother ! A 
loss, indeed, that nothing can repair ; for fortune and favor are 
never to be comp;ired to tried friendship. 1 hope, however, 
she has gone to visit the [<*** in July, agreeable to his appoint- 
ment given her in the month of March. I am persuaded that 
he would receive her with additional kindness, and that her loss 
would, in his mind, be a new claim to his protection ; especially 
as he well knows and has acknowledged her superior merit and 
just pretensions. As 1 feel the greatest concern for the situation of 
this worth}' lady, you will render me a great favor by writing 
a note, requesting her to call on you, as you have something to 
communicate from me. When she comes, be so good as to deli- 
ver her the within letter, and shew her this ; that she may see 
both my confidence in you and my advice to her. 

1 am, with the highest esteem, Sir, yours, &c. 

The latter part of the life of the Chevalier Jones was 
spent partly in Holland and partly in France. He died at 
Paris, of water in the chest, on the 1 2th of September, 1 792, 
and although a Calvinist his funeral was attended by a de- 
putation of the National Assembly, and an eloquent oration 
pronounced over his tomb by M. Marron. 

The following is the last Will and Testament of the Che- 
valier, accompanied with schedules of the property which 
belonged to him at the time of his death : — 

[translation.] 

EXEMPLIFICATION, i Before the under-written Notaries at Paris, 

^ i personally appeared Mr. John Paul Jones, 

^ citizen of the United States of America, now 

TESTAMENT OF i residing at Paris, and lodging- in Tourmon- 

PAUI JONES \ street, at the house of M. D'Arbergue, tipstaff 

I to the Tribunal of the Third Precinct, whom 

♦ — < we found in a parlor on the first story above 

5 the entry, lighted by two windows looking on 

July 18m, 1792. ^ ^jjg ggjjj street, sitting in an easy-chair, sick 

wwvwxx^^^w%/w./v>A.wv% in body, but of sound mind, memory, judgment, 

and understandmg, as appeared to us, the under-written Notaries, by 

his discourse and conversation,— who, with a view to death, did make.. 



350 

speak, and dictate to the said underwritten Notaries his Testament - 
as follows, to wit : — 

I give and bequeath all the property, moveable and immoveable, 
and other property generally whatsoever, which shall belong to me 
on the day of ray decease, in whatever countries the same may be 
situate, to my two sisters, Jane, wife of William Taylor, and Mary, 
wife of Mr. Loudon, and to the children of my said sisters, to be divi- 
ded into as many shares as my said sisters and their children shall 
form individual persons, and the same to be enjoyed by them in the 
following mann r, viz: — My sisters, and such of their children as shall 
have attained the age of twenty-one years, shall enjsy their respect- 
ive shares in full and property from the day of my decease : As to 
such of my said nephews and nieces as, on the day of my decease, 
shall not have attained the age of twenty-one years, their mothers 
shall enjoy their respective shares until they shall have attained the 
said age, charged with the board, maintenance, and education of the 
said children ; and as my said nephews and nieces shall respectively 
attain the age of twenty-one years, they shall enjoy their respective 
shares in full and absolute property. If one or more of my said ne- 
phews and nieces shall happen to die without issue, and before attain- 
ing the age of twenty-one years, the share of such of them as shall 
so have died, shall be divided between my said sisters and my other 
nephews and nieces, by equal portions. 

I appoint the Honorable Robert Morris, Esq. of Philadelphia, my 
sole testamentary Executor. I revoke all other testaments and codi- 
cils which I may have made anterior to the present, in which alone I 
persist, as containing my last will. 

It was thus done, spoken, and dictated by the said Testator to the 
said under-written Notaries, and afterward to him by one of them, 
the other being present, read, and read again, which he declared well 
to understand and persist therein, at Paris, the eighteenth day of July, 
in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-two, at five o'clock 
in the afternoon, in the apartment above-described ; and the Testator 
has signed on the minute of these presents remaining with M. Pettier, 
one of the under-written Notaries, in the margin of which is written, 
Recorded at Paris, the twenty-fifth day of September, 1792, the first 
year of the Republic, in the sixth Office. Received one hundred 
livres, provisionally, the duty to be hereafter finally settled, on the 
declaration of the revenue of the Testator. 

De France, 
Barmier Pottier. 

Philadelphia City and County, ss. 
These are to certify, that the foregoing is a true copy from a trans- 
lation of a certain instrument of writing, written in the French lan- 
guage, filed and remaining in the Register's Office at Philadelphia. 

Given under the seal of office this tenth day of No- 
[Seai/.] vember, in the year of our Lord one thousand 

seven hundred and ninety-seven. 

I. Wampole, D. Register. 




361 

Schedule of the Property of Admiral John Paul Jones, as stated by kmi 
to me, this IQth of July, 1792. 

1. Bank Stock in the Bank of North America, at Philadelphia, six 
thousand dollars, with sundry dividends. 

2. Loan Office Certificate, left with my friend John Rose, of Phila- 
delphia, for two thousand dollars, at par, with great arrearages of in- 
terest, being for 10 or 12 years. 

3. Such balance as may be in the hands of my said friend JohE 
Ross, belonging to me, and sundry effects left in his care. 

4. My lands in the state of Vermont 

5. Shares in the Ohio Company. 

6. Shares in the Indiana Company. 

7. About £1800 sterling due to me from Edward Bancroft, unless 
paid by him to Sir Robert Herries, and is then m his hands. 

8. Upwards of four years of my pension due from Denmark, to be 
asked from the Count de Bernstorff. 

9. Arrearages of my pay from the Empress of Russia, and all my 
prize-money. 

10. The balance due to me by the United States of America, of 
sundry claims in Europe, which will appear from my papers. 

This is taken from his mouth. 

GovERNEUR Morris. 

This is to certify those whom it may concern, that the following 
papers and vouchers belonging to the estate of the late Commodore 
John Paul Jones, are left in my hands, when any of the property is 
recovered, or payment obtained, to be accounted for to his heirs, ac- 
cording to his last Will and Testament, agreeably to the copy left 
with me : 

Major William Trent's deed for 300 shares in the Indiana Com- 
pany. 

Robert Morris's note, at 12 months, for ^3332 18, with interest, at 
6 per cent., dated the 18th of July, 1797. 

Robert Morris's note, at 2 years, for ^3332 18, with interest at 6 
per cent., dated the 18th of July, 1797. 

Also, a certificate for 67 shares in the Pennsylvania Property Com- 
pany, deposited as a collateral security for the payment of the two 
notes above-mentioned. 

Ten certificates, No. 2311 a 2320, for ^300 each, dated the 10th of 
July, 1777, at 4 per cent, interest. Interest paid till 1781. 

Two certificates. No. 398 and 599, for ^400 each, at 6 per cent, in- 
terest, dated the 25th of June, 1779. 

Two certificates. No. 685 and 686, for ^400 each, at 6 per cent, 
each, dated the 18th of August, 1779. 

One hundred and forty-seven old Continental dollars and lawful 
money. 

Richard Piatt's receipt for 5 shares in the Ohio Company, for $5000 
in certificates, and $50 specie. 

Also, a number of letters, accounts, journals, log-books, &c., with 
various other papers, are supposed to be of no value. 

Robert HYSLor, 

New- York, August lOth- 1797. 



352 

P. S. Likewise received at the same time, John G. Prazier's bill on 
William Frazier, Virginia, dated Bourdeaux, the 29th of March, 1779, 
for £100, Virginia currency, at 10 days sight, to be paid in Loan Of- 
fice certificates, bearing interest from the 1st of November, 1777, — 
which bill was presented the 30th of August, 17B1, and refused. 

Robert Hyslop. 

As every thing relating to the Revolutionary period must 
be interesting to the American public, and there being a 
mass of correspondence between the Chevalier Jones and 
a number of the most distinguished men of that day, not in- 
cluded in the preceding hfe and character, we have thought 
that it would be historically useful to publish a part of them, 
in connexion with his life, by way of appendix. 



APPENDIX. 

Marine office, Philadelphia, Sept. 30th, 1784. 
The Chevalier Paul Jones, Paris. 
Sir, 
I am to acknowledge the receipt of your several favoi's of 
26th of December, 13th of April, and 18th of June last. I 
have to reproach myself for not making an early reply to the 
first ; but I was so much harrassed when I received it that I 
could not find an opportunity. Afterward 1 lived in the daily 
expectation of making my personal acknowledgment, but since 
your stay in Europe has been delayed beyond either your ex- 
pectation or mine, 1 now take the last opportunity which 1 shall 
ever have of expressing my sentiments officially upon the zeal, 
activity, fortitude and intelligence, which you have exhibited on 
so many occasions in the service of the United States. Accept, 
I pray you. Sir, this last feeble testimon}/ which I can give, and 
which, however unequal to your deserts, is at least expressive 
of that respect and sincere esteem with which I have the honor 
to be, &c. 

R. Morris. 

Paris, February 21th, 1786. 

Mr. Paul Jones, Commodore in the Navy of the U. States. 
Sir, 

I have received with much gratitude the mark of confidence 
which you have given me, and 1 have read with great eagerness 
and pleasure that interesting relation. 

My first impression was to desire you to have it published, 
but after having read it I perceive that you had not written it 
with a view to publication, because there are things in it which 
are written to the King, for whom alone that work was intended. 



353 

However, actions memorable as yours are, ought to be made 
known to the world by an authentic journal published in your 
own name. 

I earnestly intreat you to work at it as soon as your affairs 
will allow you ; and in the mean-time, / hope that the King will 
read this work with that attention which he owes to the relation of 
the services which have been rendered to him by a person so cele- 
brated. 

I beg you to be persuaded of the sincere attachment with 
which I have the honor to be, &c. Malesherbes. 

Paris, January 1st, 1786. 

His Most Christian Majesty Louis, King of France, &c. 
Sire, 

History gives the world no example of such generosity as that 
of your Majesty towards the young republic of America ; and I 
believe there never was a more flattering compliment shown by 
a Sovereign to his allies, than when your Majesty determined to 
arm and support a squadron under the flag of the United States. 

Words cannot express my sense of the preference I obtained 
when your Majesty deigned to mike choice of me to command 
that squadron. 

Your Majesty has as much reputation for knowledge and the 
desire of information, as you have for wisdom and justice ; but 
besides that consideration, I conceived it to be my duty to lay 
before your Majesty an account of my conduct as an officer, 
particularly from the date of the alliance between your Majesty 
and the United States. As your Majesty understands English, I 
have perhaps judged ill by presenting extracts of my journal in 
French ; my motive was to give your Majesty as little trouble as 
possible. 

Accept, Sire, with indulgence, this confidential off'ering of 
my gratitude, which is an original written for your particular 
information. 

It has been and will be the ambition of mj' life to merit the 
singular honor conferred on me by your Majesty's Brevet, 
dated at Versailles, on the 28th of June, 1780, which says, " Sa 
Majeste voulant marquer au J. Paul Jones, Commodore de la 
marine de Etats Unis de I'America, I'estime particuliere qu'elle 
fait desa personne, pour les preuret de bravoure et d'intrepidite 
qu'il a donneer et qui sont connue de sa Majestic, elle a juge a 
propos de I'associer a I'institution du Merite militaire, &c." 

The Congress of the United States has, with great justice, 
styled your Majesty " The protector of the rights of human 
nature." 

AVith the order of military merit vour Majesty conferred on 
Y V ■' 



■*'•';•' 



.ioA 



me a gold sword : an honor which I presume no other officer 
has received ; and " the protector of the rights of hunaan na- 
ture" will always find me ready to draw that sword and expose 
my life for his service. 

I am, Sire, with the truest gratitude 

Your Majesty's most obliged and devoted servant, 

Paul Jones. 

Protector of fair freedom's rights, 

Louis, thy virtues please thy God I 
The good man in thy praise delights, 

And tyrants tremble at thy nod. * 

Thy people's father, lov'd so well. 

May time respect ! When thou art gone 
.Vlay each new year of history tell. 

Thy sons, with lustre fill thy throne. 

For the purpose of perpetuating the uames and rank of 
the American naval heroes of the Revolutionary War, the 
following authentic hst of the commission officers, is insert- 
ed in this work : 

CAPTAINS AND COMMANDERS. 



WHEN APPOINTED. 


NAMES. 


TO WHAT VESSEI.. 








Guns. 


December 22, 


1775. 


Ezekiel Hopkins, 


Alfred, 


30 


a (I 


(t 


Dudley Saltonstall, 


Trumbull, 


28 


" " 


" 


Abraham Whipple, 


Columbus, 


28 


(I it 


tt 


Nicholas Biddle, 


Andrew Doria, 


16 


(( » 


tt 


John B. Hopkins, 


Sebastian Cabot, 14 


April 1'7, 


1776. 


William Manley, 


Hancock, 


32 


it ti 


" 


Isaac Cozneau, 






June 6, 


ti 


Thomas Thompson, 


Raleigh, 


32 


li li 


tt 


Samuel Tompkins, 
Christopher Miller, 






." " 


" 


John Barry, 


Effingham, 


2ii 


" '• 




Thomas Read, 


Washington, 


32 


.. it 


'• 


Charles Alexander, 


Delaware, 


24 


li li 


it 


James Nicholson, 


Virginia, 


28 


" 15 


tt 


Hector M'Niel, 


Boston, 


24 


it tt 


" 


Thomas Grennall, 


Congress, 


28 


August 13, 


" 


Elisha Hinman, 


Alfred, 


30 


22, 


!' 


John Hodge, 
John Manley, 


Montgomery, 


24 


October 10, 


it 


Lambert Wickes, 


Reprisal, 


16 


i. tt 


tt 
tt 


William Hallock, 
Hoysted Hacker, 






it (t 


'• 


Isaiah Robinson, 






tt tt 




John Paul Jones, 


Providence, 


12 


it tt 


" 


James Josiah, 






'.: ti 


'• 


Joseph Olney. 


Cabot, 


M 



3bb 



WHEW EJttPLOYED. 


NAMES. 


TO WHAT VESSEL. 


October 10, 


1776. 


James Robison, 


Sachem, 10 


.( (t 


ii 


John Young, 


Independence, 10 


wl (( 


li 


Elisha Warner, 

Lieut. Com. I. Baldwin. 




" " 


i( 


Thomas Albertson, 


Musquito. 1 


February 5, 


1777. 


Henry Johnson, 




March 15, 


(I 


Daniel Waters, 




a u 


ti 


Samuel Tucker. 




.May!, 


1778. 


William Burko. 




June 18, 


" 


Peter Landais. 




September 25 


a 


Seth Harding. 




17, 


1779. 

(1 


Silas Talbot, 
Samuel Nicholson, 
John Nicholson, 
Henry Skinner, 
Benjamin Dunn, 


, 




" 


Samuel Chew. 


1 



LIEUTENANTS. 



December 22, 1773. 



John Paul Jones, 
Rhodes Arnold, 

Stansbur}', 

Hoysted Hacker, 
Jonathan Pitcher, 
Benjamin Seabury, 
Joseph Olney, 
Elisha Warner, 
Thomas Weaver, 
M'Dougall, 



June 6, 



J uly 22, 

August 17, 

22, 



February 5, 
August 6, 
12, 
July 20, 



1,776. 



John Fanning, 
Ezekiel Burroughs, 
Daniel Vaughan, 
Israel Turner, 
Joseph Doble, 
Mark Dennett, 
Peter Shores, 
John Wheelriglit, 
Josiah Shackford, 
William Barnes, 
Thomas Vaughan, 
Jonathan Maltby, 
David Phipps, 
Wilson, 



1777, 



John Nicholson 
Elijah Bowen, 
John Rodeg, 
William MoUeston, 
Richard Dale, 
Alexander Murray, 
Plunkett. 



Joshua Barney, 
Isaac Buck, 
[John Stevens, 
JAquilla Johns 



1st. 



3d. 



1st. 
2d. 
3d. 



1st. 
3d. 
1st. 
2d. 
1st. 
2d. 
1st. 
2d. 
3d. 



CHARACTER 



COMMODORE JOHN PAUL. JONES, 



The incidents in tiie lii'e of the Chevalier J olin Paul Jones, 
as far as the papers in the possession of the author, and in- 
formation from respectable sources will explain and establish 
them, have been faithfully recited in the preceding pages. 
It only remains to draw from them the features of his cha- 
racter. 

It appears to the vrriter of this volume, that there is a pre- 
valent mistake in estimating the merits of singular or extra- 
ordinary men. They are measured by a standard somewhat 
like that of Procrustes, to correspond with which, those who 
were too long were cut shorter, and those who were too 
short were stretched to a greater length. If an individual 
who has distinguished himself in hterature, in science, in the 
arts, in the affairs of state, or in arms, does not exhibit all 
the virtues of which human nature in its varieties is capa- 
ble, he is pronounced defective, and condemned according- 
ly. On the contrary, where the partiality of friendship or 
admiration would make, a character, and the materials are 
inadequate to the structure, the individual is raised beyond 
his level by praises for frivolous qualifications, which, as they 
relate to human actions, are utterly insignificant. 

The memory of the Chevalier John Paul Jones does not 
require any thing more, to ensure its perpetuation, than a 
just representation of his achievements. There was nothing 
artificial about him : every thing was natural ; and whether 
he was addressing himself to Congress, to kings, nobles, or 
citizens, he uniformly manifested the same frankness of dis- 
position and resolution of purpose. We do not expect to 
find absolute perfection in him or in any other man. The 



367 ^ 

tempeiameut which belonged to him, the spirit of adventure 
by which he was impelled, his careless indifference to the 
accumulation of wealth, precisely in the proportion that 
they existed in him, were indispensable to form John Paul 
Jones. Every being acts agreeably to the constitution of 
its nature ; and it would be just as absurd to look for a con- 
templative philosopher in the bustle of business, or a daring 
naval commander in the ordinary pursuits of civil life, as to 
seek for a gently purling stream in the crater of a volcano. 

Of the birth, parentage, education, first associations, and 
early avocations of Jones, but little is known. That his 
rise in the world, whatever of fortune he had acquired and 
knowledge he had obtained, were principally owing to his 
own personal application and exertions, is apparent. That 
he was no novice when he entered the American service, is 
equally manifest. That he understood the method of ad- 
vancing his own interests, is also evident. But there is this 
distinguishing trait in his character, which at once places 
him in the class of great men — his schemes for preferment 
were always founded upon considerations of accruing na- 
tional benefits. Thus, when he insisted on his seniority of 
rank in the United States from the date of his original com- 
mission, he claimed it as well from his efiiciency as an offi- 
cer as from that circumstance : When, in France, he re- 
quested an independent command, he urged it upon the 
ground of his capacity for rendering more essential services 
than others to the common cause, and appealed to facts 
which no one could deny : And in Russia, where his nauti-| 
cal skill was so conspicuous, and his gallant behaviour against 
the Turks so beneficial to the Empress, he merely sought foi^ 
the reward to which his conduct entitled him. 

Although not peculiarly trained to the usages of courts, 
he was obviously a courtier in no small degree ; for at Paris 
and Versailles he commonly carried his points against the. 
intrigues of disciphned intriguers. He baffled the petty ar- 
tifices of his rivals more by his energy, and the utility of Ms 
plans, than by finesse and cunning. He had, nevertheless, 
a native shrewdness which was not easily foiled. The vi- 
vacity of his temper did not qualify him for prolonged nego- 
tiations ; for, in his correspondence, as well as in combat, 
he was eager to grapple witfi his adversary, and to bring the 
question at issue to a termination as speedily as possible. 
He was impatient when out of employment; and notwith- 



siaiidiiig that he was, in his moments of leisure, disposed to 
be convivial, and occasionally indulged in the pleasures of 
society, it veas more to relieve himself from the uneasiness 
of lassitude than from any positive inclination to prodigality 
ur dissipation. The same activity of mind that incessantly 
urged him to seek for new enterprises, made him restless in 
]jort, led him to the social board, or the society of the fair 
sex. Fruitful in expedients, he was never at a loss for a 
fresh project in which his talents might shine. Returning 
from the Bahamas, he wrote to his friends in Congress, 
pressing them to confide to him some new expedition ; when 
in France, his various propositions to the Minister of the 
Marine shewed the fertility of his genius ; at the close of the 
war of the American revolution, he soon found occupation 
in the fleet of Catharine ; and when that scene closed upon 
him, he had his eye fixed on an adventure against the Alge- 
rines. He was, emphatically, a man of action; and, fond 
of writing, he was indefatigable in recording not only his 
deeds but his sentiments. He seemed to abhor indolence ; 
and every hour that was not strictly devoted to the acquisi- 
tion of glory appeared to make him unhappy. 

There is reason to believe, from the frequent altercations 
in which Jones was engaged, that he was fond of supreme 
command, and that he did not bear with the best grace the 
dictates of a superior, or even the advice of an equal. His 
weakness was that of selfishness in all that relates to personal 
fame. But who, in this respect, is not selfish ? Sincere in 
friendship and intense in animosity, his feelings were ex- 
pressed in strong and unequivocal terms. These, gaining 
currency, were seized upon to his disadvantage ; and his 
-enemies, who could not dispute his bravery, continually* 
thwarted his purposes, by representing him as a person bet- 
ter qualified for the command of single ships than of squad- 
rons — better suited to execute than to direct an enterprise. 
The difficulties which he had to encounter with regard to 
prize-money, embroiled him with M. le Ray de Chaumont, 
who had been his friend and patron, and with whom he had 
been upon the most intimate terms. This unhappy differ- 
ence arose chiefly from the different views which the parties 
took of the same transactions, and was probably precipita- 
ted and continued by the impetuosity of Jones. The Che- 
valier was hurt at the equality which the '•'' Concordat'''' pre- 
scribed between himself and the other captains in the squad- 



359 

>on whose cruise terminated in the capture oi" the Serapis, 
That equality wounded the sensibihty of Jones, and inter- 
fered with his predominating passion for renown. It is 
known to the author, from a letter dictated by Dr. Frank- 
lin from a bed of sickness, dated at Philadelphia, in No- 
vember, 1789, to the elder M. le Ray de Chaumont, that he 
did not regard the latter in the same unfavorable light that 
Jones did. In that letter, after the close of the revolution- 
ary war, Dr. Frankhn speaks to his old acquaintance as the 
friend of America ; a language which he undoubtedly would 
not have held had M. le Ray de Chaumont been guilty of any 
thing improper concerning the prize-money alluded to, or 
of any thing dishonest touching the American cause. It has 
been verified to the author, in a manner which leaves no 
room for doubt, that M. le Ray de Chaumont, until the time 
of his death, entertained for the Chevalier John Paul Jones 
the most sincere esteem, duly valuing his great faculties, but 
perceiving hkewise the imperfections of his temper and his 
unbounded thirst for glory, which sometimes misled his 
judgment. 

Had Jones been born within the limits of the United Ame- 
rican Colonies, or been a native of France, he would per- 
haps have risen to a greater height of authority than he did 
in either country. He would not have arrived at greater 
honors ; and the command of the America, 74, which was 
assigned to him by the unanimous vote of Congress, was 
probably as high a distinction as any that an American naval 
officer could at that time have aspired to : Indeed, it is one 
of the highest naval trusts in the gift of the government of 
the United States at this time. 

Jones displayed his ruling passion in other instances than 
those of a warlike character. He had his bust taken, and 
distributed casts of it to a number of American gentlemen 
of high standing; and especially to General Washington, 
John Jay, General Irvine, General St. Clair, Mr. Ross, Mr. 
Thomson, Secretary of Congress, Colonel Wadsworth, James 
Madison, and Colonel Carrington. The busts were made 
by M. Houdan, of Paris. In the medal voted to him by the 
Congress, he was also very particular. In giving directions 
for its execution, he declared that he would have none struck 
but in gold. 

The influence of Jones's achievements in Europe was 
verv considerable. His firmness whilst Iving in the Texel. 



360 

ihe ability with which he conducted himself in that critical 
situation, and the impression which his capture of the Sera- 
pis had made, had an elfect on the deliberations of the States 
General of Holland, and hastened their resolutions in favor 
of the independence of the United States of America. 

Whilst in the command of a squadron in Europe, Jones 
had treated the Danish flag with much respect. When he 
visited Copenhagen this courtesy was recollected ; and the 
court of Denmark subsequently granted him a yearly pen- 
sion of fifteen hundred rix-^ollars. At first he did not touch 
this stipend, but his affairs falling into some embarrassment, 
he accepted it ; not, however, without the privity, and it is 
presumed the assent of his own government. Had his affairs 
been in a more prosperous train, he would, in all probabili- 
t}^, never have applied for it. 

In his letters to Lady Selkirk will be perceived the gene- 
rous delicacy of a noble mind. He could not restrain the 
cupidity of his men ; but he did what it remained in his 
power to do : he restored the plundered plate, at the expense 
of his private purse. Alexander the Great himself, never 
performed a more liberal action. 

On the whole, the Chevalier John Paul Jones was a man 
of strong natural faculties ; of a good English education ; of 
an ardent temperament ; of a quick penetration ; of a firm 
and daring courage ; with an inclination to literature, an 
extraordinary ambition, a restless activity of soul, an indif- 
ference for money, a heart that felt for the distress of his 
fellow creatures, a spirit that would neither give nor brook 
an insult, and a philantliropy co-extensive with the globe. 
He delighted in being considered an American citizen, but 
was still more pleased witli being known as the friend of the 
human race, and as the enemy of its oppressors. 

" Glory ! Immortal glory, was his goal, 
On which he fix'd his fond unerring eye ; — 
It nerv'd his arm ; it warm'd his inmost soul ; 
It taught him how to live, and how to die." 

Robert T. Spence, Capt. United States Na,Yy, 



StOGB.A.Fi3.1CA.lLM SKETCH 



COMMODORE RICHARD DALE- 



Commodore Dale having been mentioned in the coui'se 
ot" the foregoing life of the Chevaher Paul Jones, a brief bio- 
graphical sketch of that respectable officer may be satisfac- 
tory to the reader. 

He was born on the Western Branch, four or five miles 
from Norfolk^ Virginia. He went to sea when he was be- 
tween 12 and 13 years of age, and served his time in the 
employment of Thomas Newton, a respectable merchant of 
Norfolk. In the autumn of 1 775, he was the mate of a brig 
belonging to Col. Newton, and arrived at Norfolk, where a 
British ship of war was lying, and things very unsettled. — 
He proceeded with the brig up James River, to City Point, 
In March, 1776, Capt. Barrett, the commander of the brig, 
was engaged in the Virginia state service, and Commodore 
Dale was sent down the river by him to Sandy Point, in a 
small schooner, for some guns, and was captured by a Bri- 
tish tender and taken to Norfolk. In July, he entered as a 
midshipman on board the United States' brig Lexington, 
Capt. Barry. In October he sailed in that brig as masters 
mate, from Philadelphia to Cape Francois. On his return, 
towards the end of December, Commodore Dale was cap- 
tured by the British frigate Liverpool, off the Capes of Vir- 
ginia. The wind was strong and the sea high at the time, 
so that the enemy could take only seven of the officers out. 
The remaining officers and crew retook the brig the follow- 
ing night, and carried her to Baltimore. On the 1st of Ja- 
nuary, 1777, he was landed on Cape Henlopen, made the 
best of his way to Philadelphia, and was ordered by the 
Navy Departui^nt at Baltimore. From thence he sailed in 
March for Bourdeaux, ia the brig Lexington, Henry John- 
ston commander, and from Bourdeaux to Nantes, to join 
Capt. Wicks in the ship Reprisal, and Capt. Samuel Nichol- 
son in a cutter. He sailed on a cruise from that place in 
May or June to the Bay of Biscay, the English and Irish 
Channels, and was chased into Morlaix, where he remained 
for some time. He sailed from that port about the 17th or 
1 8th of September, bound for the United States, and the 
next morning fell in with a British cutter. After an acti<w 

Zz 



of four hours, Ihc amnnuulion having all been (•X})ciidcd, the 
vessel struck, and Commodore Dale was carried into Mill 
]>rison. He made his escape in February following, arrived 
at London, was retaken, and sent back to prison. In Fe- 
bruary, 1779, he made his escape a second time, went up to 
London, thence to Dover, to Calais, to Paris, to Nantes, and 
to L'Orient, where he joined Commodore Jones in the Bon 
homme Richard, as master's mate. Before the sailing of 
that ship, Jones made him his first lieutenant. Commodore 
Dale's account of the battle with the Serapis will be found 
in the preceding narrative. He returned, about the age of 
22 years and 6 months, with Jones, in the Ariel, to Phila- 
delphia, where he entered on board the Trumbull of 28 guns, 
Capt. James Nicholson, and was taken off the Capes of Dela- 
ware by two British ships of war and carried into New- York, 
in August, 1781. He was exchanged in the succeeding No- 
vember. 

When, under the present constitution of the United States, 
the naval establishment was commenced, Commodore Dale 
was honorably remembered. He was appointed a captain 
on the 1 1th of Mayi, 1798, to take rank from the 4th of June, 
1794. In May, 1798, the command of the sloop of war 
Ganges, of 24 guns, was given to him, with orders to cruise 
between the Capes of Virginia and Long-Island, so as to 
afford the best protection in his power to our jurisdictional 
rights, and to all vessels of the United States coming in or 
jioing off the coast, against French cruisers. On the 1st of 
February, 1799, he went to the East Indies on furlough. — 
On the 28th of April, 1801, he was appointed to the com- 
mand of the American squadron in the Mediterranean, to 
protect our commerce from the attacks of the Regencies of 
Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli. He resigned his commission 
on the 17th of December, 1802, and now resides in Phila- 
delphia, in the bosom of an amiable family, respected and 
beloved by a numerous circle of relations, friends, and ac- 
([uaintanccs, enjoying the fruits of his manly and patriotic 
exertions in the cause of American Independence. The 
following attestation of character by the Chevalier John 
Paul Jones, speaks impressively in favor of the gallant, in- 
trepid, and worthy veteran Dale : 

Commodore J. Paul Joius's letter of recommendation and certifi- 
cate of merit for Lieut. Richard Dale, dated July 18th, 1781. 
The bearer hereof, Mr. Richard Dale, having served as a 

masters-mate in the continental brisantine Lexington, and r-- 



3G3 

t aped irom an English prison long after that brigantine was taken 
in the European seas, was employed by me in France in the 
spring of 1779, on board the continental ship of war Bon homme 
Richard, as a masters-mate. In the summer of that year I pro- 
moted him to the station of lieutenant, and gave him a commis- 
sion. He was with me as lieutenant in that ship on a cruise in 
the Bay of Biscay, and on the expedition from France round the 
west of Ireland, by the north, to the Texel. He afterward 
was with me as a lieutenant in the Alliance from the Texel to 
Spain and back to France, and from France he came with me as 
lieutenant in the Ariel to this city. In the action between the 
Bon homme Richard and the Serapis, he commanded the fore- 
part of the battery of 12 pounders, and did his utmost till it was 
silenced by the fire of the Serapis, the Countess of Scarborough, 
and the Alliance, He afterward did his best to assist at the 
pumps and other places, showing a firmness and military spirit 
which does him the highest honor, and for which he has my 
particular thanks. When the Ariel was dismounted he shewed 
no less firmness, and in the action between the Ariel and Tri- 
umph did his duty with great spirit. Mr. Dale is included in the 
vote of thanks with which I have been honored by the United 
States in Congress assembled since my return from Europe, and 
%vill, 1 am sure, always approve himself a good man, and deser- 
ving officer. Given under my hand and seal'at Philadelphia this 
18th day of July, 1781. 



bzo&raphxcjA.Zi skzstcm of 
LIEUT. ELIJAH HALL. 

Having given a brief outline of the character of Commo- 
dore Dale, it would be injustice to omit a due notice of ano- 
ther brave and meritorious officer, who served with the 
Chevalier John Paul Jones. We allude to Elijah Hall, 
w ho was a lieutenant under the Chevalier in the Ranger. 

Lieut. Hall had entef^ed on board this vessel at Ports- 
mouth, New-Hampshire, before her departure for France, 
and was in her with Jones in his cruise on the coasts of Scot- 
land and Ireland, in the descent on Whitehaven, and in the 
battle with the Drake. When Simpson behaved so badly 
as to disobey orders, it was Hall that was selected to arrest 
him, and to command the Drake in his stead. The promi- 
nent traits of Lieut. Hall's character were promptitude and 
energy ; of which he gave a remarkable instance in repair- 
ing the Drake in the course of one night, with the assistance 
of forty men, after Simpson had pronounced it impossible in 
her then shattered condition. 



Lieut. Hall went to Brest with Jones ; and when, ihiuugh 
the benevolence of the latter, Simpson was put in command 
of the Ranger for the purpose of returning to America, Hall 
occupied the post of first lieutenant. After his return to 
the United States, he was engaged in several expeditions 
against the enemy, on board the same ship, with Commo- 
dore Whipple, and was very successful in making captures, 
most of which arrived safely in port. When the America, 
74, was assigned to Jones, he offered Lieut. Hall a very 
honorable and efficient station in her ; but the gift of that 
vessel to France frustrated his good intentions. Lieut. Hall 
eventually proceeded in the Ranger, with other ships of war, 
to assist in the defence of Charleston, South-Carolina, where 
he fell into the hands of the enemy, in common with the 
garrison, by capitulation. He returned to New-Hampshire, 
but was not exchanged until a general surrender of prison- 
ers. He never resigned his commission, and was always 
ready for active service. At the close of the war of the 
revolution he engaged in commercial pursuits, by which he 
enriched himself; but suffered considerably by the British 
orders in council, and the French, Berlin, and Milan decrees. 
Although offered a pension by government, he would not 
receive it ; but accepted the appointment of naval officer 
for Portsmouth, a situation which he still retains, at the ad- 
vanced age of 83. With the snow of so many winters upon 
his head, he discharges his duty, it is understood, with the 
greatest satisfaction to the merchants and others, atfording 
proof of an uncommon vigor of constitution and strength of 
intellect. Faithful to his country and true to his duty in 
every situation, there can be no doubt that a consciousness 
of probity has ensured for him that intellectual tranquillity 
which is so favorable to human life. 

As far as the author of this work is informed. Commodore 
Dale and Lieutenant Hall are the only surviving officers of 
all those who, at various times, sailed with and fought under 
the Chevalier John Paul Jones. Time has laid others in 
the dust ; but seems to have preserved these two venerable 
men as a sample of the stout hearts and strong frames of the 
heroes who braved the shores and squadrons of Great Bri- 
tain, and plucked laurels in her very ports to deck the brow 
and promote the glory of infant America. 



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